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Servant Leadership, Service, and Securing the Bridal Sale: Evidential Insight on the Implementation of Servant Leadership and its Effect on Organizational Outcomes During the COVID-19 Crisis

Servant Leadership, Service, and Securing the Bridal Sale: Evidential Insight on the Implementation of Servant Leadership and its Effect on Organizational Outcomes During the COVID-19 Crisis

Adriana J. Pounds | 2023

Abstract

Much developmental research has accumulated evidential support that servant leadership positively affects employee morale and certain organizational criteria. However, there is scarce research evidence regarding the relationship between servant leadership implementation and the benefits of this implementation for an organization as a whole. Research has supported that servant leadership has a positive correlation with improving employee performance. Research in the field of servant leadership lacks the evidential connection between improvement in employee performance leading to an improvement in overall organizational performance. Only a few studies have suggested that when servant leadership is implemented in an organization that is a part of the service industry that the organization tends to yield positive outcomes, such as improved organizational performance. Specifically, no studies provide evidence that implementing servant leadership within the bridal service industry results in an increase in organizational performance and an increase in organizational profits, even during a time of international crisis such as the global COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative, bounded case study expands on the foundational premise of servant leadership as it provides insight that implementing servant leadership in the bridal industry during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in positive organizational outcomes such as increased performance and profits. Seven semistructured interviews were conducted at three different bridal organizations. In vivo coding and concept coding were used and identified a total of 178 codes and 27 themes, which included empowerment and development of employees; prioritizing employee needs and caring for employees; increase in organizational commitment, loyalty, and performance; and managers implementing servant leadership approach builds a community, builds a positive supportive environment, boosts employee morale, and increases sales. The data revealed that the more servant leadership practices were prevalent in the organization, the greater desire of employees to excel in the organization. These organizations also experienced greater increases in performance and profits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leader-Follower Development: The Relationship Between Followers

Leader-Follower Development: The Relationship Between Followers’ Perception of a Leaders’ Implicit Followership Theory and Psychological Empowerment 

Lance Patrick Reichenberger | 2023

Abstract 

In the post-COVID-19 workplace, the devastation to the supply chain and corporate boards turned upside down as the world went home to work. Understanding and nurturing the leader-follower relationship is required for organizations to survive such challenges. It is time to put the followers first instead of the shareholders, as the followers bring success to the shareholder. This is the first empirical study focused on the human resource side of the business by expanding the critical follower-centered theories. The implicit followership theory (IFT) and concept of psychological empowerment (PE) can change how organizations attract, maintain, and grow their teams. The current dissertation was designed and undertaken to prove a relationship between IFT and PE to determine how to psychologically empower followers through a thorough understanding and growth of the post-millennial generations. This dissertation was designed as a quantitative correlation study with 24 hypotheses tested. The dissertation required a minimum of 128 respondents, as estimated using G*Power. A complex SurveyMonkey questionnaire was created and distributed via targeted emails, social media campaigns, and Slack direct to leaders and managers in the technology industry. The managers completed and IFT Likert scale instrument for each of their followers they chose to include in the research, and the followers completed a PE Likert scale instrument survey. To statistically aggregate the data received from the surveys, I used IBM’s SPSS software. The results from SPSS showed that a few variables and hypotheses were statistically significant and correlated, ranging from -.3 to .92 with a p < .05 within the Good Citizen, Conformity, and Insubordination of the IFT. These findings proved that the leader’s perception of their followers and the follower’s direct report of their PE are associated. The results determined that organizations and academia can benefit from the study, catapulting followership and leadership homogeny.

A Phenomenological Study of African American Women

A Phenomenological Study of African American Women’s Experiences in Church Leadership

Dwayne Castro | 2023

Abstract

Leadership is among the most discussed topics in the contemporary world, as increased competence fosters the institutions’ success; however, continued research has shown that the phenomenon has been a reserve of the masculine males for many decades, leading to women being comprehensively underrepresented, especially in church leadership. Recent observations have shown that women have continually taken leadership roles, which have introduced a new set of challenges faced during their rise to church administrative duties and when they attain full pastoral positions. Some of the obstacles/experienced by clergywomen are related to the societal biases which have permeated society for centuries. These include unconscious bias (external), imposter syndrome (internal), and double-bide paradox. These biases have been reinforced by various biblical perspectives and misinterpretations and the patriarchal society, which has framed leadership as assuming the male figure leading to women leaders facing adverse experiences while undertaking their leadership roles. Further, there is an observed glass cliff situation where women are only appointed to positions of power in the face of crises, setting them to fail, an aspect that reinforces the societal view that women are not equally capable as leaders. Glass cliff is a situation in which women are promoted to leadership positions during a crisis. Based on the above, the researcher designed a qualitative study to investigate the diverse experiences faced by women in church leadership. The researcher used a semistructured interview to analyze the experiences of 12 women in leadership positions drawn from churches adopting egalitarian and complementarian philosophies to make solid inferences on the persistence of the experiences and offer diverse recommendations.

Keywords: Egalitarian, leadership, bias, women leadership, experience, church, church leadership

The CRED Study: Reimagining the Work, Worth, and Well-Being of American Clergy

The CRED Study: Reimagining the Work, Worth, and Well-Being of American Clergy

Wayne Emmanuel Credle | 2023

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of 11 American full-time pastors at the senior and executive level to examine how personal, interpersonal, vocational, and social stress affect the well-being of clergypersons. Completing the study answered the calls of both Asimakoupoulos (1997) and Pooler (2011) who called for new models of organizational support for clergypersons. An exhaustive review of (a) spiritual leadership, (b) Christian leadership, (c) workplace spirituality, and (d) role identity theory was conducted, which yielded five research questions: RQ1: What does a typical day look like for American clergy? RQ2: How does clergy find purpose and meaning at work? RQ3: What is needed for clergy to have purpose and meaning at work? RQ4: How is the well-being of clergy? RQ5: What support do American clergy need to support their work, worth, and well-being? Ten interview questions emerged from the five research questions used in a one-on-one interview with the participants. Participants were chosen from a mixture of convenience sampling and purposive sampling for a 1-hour virtual interview. Participants were between the ages of 33-64, male and female, African American and Caucasian, and represented the Baptist (3), Presbyterian (2), and United Methodist Church (3) as well as nondenominational churches (3). Eight of the participants pastored a local church, and two of the participants served as chaplains at a university and in the Air Force. One participant served as a pastor of two churches and a hospital chaplain. The study concluded that clergypersons do more paperwork than pastoral care; are motivated inwardly, outwardly, and eschatologically; need place, space, and grace; handle stress by integrating, isolating, compartmentalizing, or being actively inactive; and need competitive pay, consistent practices, covenant people, and unconventional principles. As a result, the four domains of connection, restoration, empowerment, and development (CRED) emerged as a tool to assess the needs of clergypersons and assist with crafting strategies of intervention to maintain clergy well-being.

Leadership in High-Performance Organizations: Quantitative Research on Belonging, Servant Leadership, and Personality in High-Performance Work Systems

Leadership in High-Performance Organizations: Quantitative Research on Belonging, Servant Leadership, and Personality in High-Performance Work Systems

Matthew A. Dussia | 2023

Abstract 

The relationship between belonging, servant leadership, and personality in high-performance work systems was explored in this quantitative study. The University Belongingness Questionnaire (UBQ), the Global Servant Leadership (SL-7) Assessment, the High-Performance Work Systems Survey (HPWS), and the mini-IPIP were utilized. SurveyMonkey was the online data platform to aggregate data. Advertising took place on selected social media platforms and through various organizations. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether there is a linear association between the variables. If a p-value was less than 0.05, then the hypothesis was correct. The study’s goal was to inform leaders to what extent servant leadership should be employed in high-performance work systems. Authorization from the Regent University Institutional Review Board was obtained before collecting surveys.

Joyful Leadership Amidst Tragedy and Triumph: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of the Attributes and Impact of Joyful Leadership in Work and Life

Joyful Leadership Amidst Tragedy and Triumph: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study of the Attributes and Impact of Joyful Leadership in Work and Life

Donald K. Egle | 2023

Abstract

The challenges and opportunities of work, life, and leadership are plentiful and diverse. This study explored the attributes and impact of joyful leadership amidst tragedy and triumph. The four established research questions are in direct response to the emerging scholarly call for accelerated discovery related to the topic of joy, the development of the theology of joy, and the development of the science of joy. Qualitative phenomenological methodology is used to engage 12 Evangelical Christian leaders in semistructured interviews that outline their lived experiences relative to joy and leadership. As a result of significant data collection, findings include five key insights and are as follow: growth of a leader, mindset of a leader, commitment to other people, individual and collective success, and close fellowship with God. A joyful leader pursues authentic growth through tragedy and triumph. This ongoing leadership development prepares a leader to choose joy, influence perspective, embrace resolve, and live a life of character. As a result, a joyful leader serves as an example to others, creates meaningful relationships, and cares for the needs of others. This contributes to results, unity, and a flourishing culture. Lastly, joyful leaders walk in close fellowship with God by understanding His purpose and call, the power of prayer, the wisdom of the Word of God, and the active presence of the Holy Spirit.

Correlations Between Authentic Leadership

Correlations Between Authentic Leadership’s Transparency and Moral/Ethical Scales and Entrepreneurial Orientation’s Innovativeness and Proactiveness Scales

Sharon Hathaway Forrest | 2023

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether correlations exist between authentic leadership’s (AL) transparency and moral/ethical dimensions and entrepreneurial orientation’s (EO) innovativeness and proactiveness dimensions. The study surveyed 108 online survey respondents, with 16 participants culled mainly for the duration of participation, which was less than or more than expected (i.e., speeders and delayers). In this study, I found that the survey instruments, ALQ and ENTRESCALE, were reliable and produced a viable framework for measurement and analysis of these dimensions in accordance with prior research (Avolio et al., 2018; Knight, 1997) with strong positive correlations between their own dimensions. However, what was unexpected was the lack of significant correlation between the two instruments in the whole of their scales, except for transparency and innovativeness with a weak significant correlation. Of the 17 items included from the two instruments, several items did show the possibility of association should the survey framework be updated with contemporary language and structure to elicit responses more in keeping with this hint of association between transparency and innovativeness. For instance, proactiveness as a dimension was not at all associated and sometimes gave a glimpse of negative association with transparency and moral/ethical leadership behaviors; yet, prior research has indicated an association between proactiveness and transparency and moral/ethical behavior (Bateman & Crant, 1993). Updating the ALQ and ENTRESCALE language and structural approach while maintaining the stability of these instruments will certainly be a research challenge but needful for assessing the observations of early career professionals, which made up the majority of participants for this survey-focused study. For those who hope to provide global society with leadership development measurement tools and curricula to guide humankind with methods and means of the design, development, and use of ethical AI and other advanced technologies, the results of research will prove critical.

A Qualitative Study of the Relationship between Self-Compassion, Self-Care, and Self-Efficacy Among School Psychologist Leaders

A Qualitative Study of the Relationship between Self-Compassion, Self-Care, and Self-Efficacy Among School Psychologist Leaders

Laura Gali | 2023

Abstract

Self-compassion and self-care are challenges for leaders, including school psychologists who are especially vulnerable to burnout, which could cause harm. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between the self-efficacy of school psychologists as caregiving leaders and their self-compassion and self-care. Specifically, the researcher explored the behavioral relationships of self-efficacy, self-care, and self-compassion among school psychologists as caregiving leaders and the role of these relationships in informing stress or burnout in their leadership roles. The researcher used a qualitative descriptive design to gather the participants’ descriptions of the phenomenon to address the posed research questions. It provided an understanding of how to describe the characteristics of self-compassion, self-care, and self-efficacy through their descriptions obtained through semi-structured interviews from the target population, which included school psychologists at public schools in the United States. From the results of the study, the self-compassion behaviors shared by school psychologists include compassionate self-talk, self-advocacy and boundaries, welcoming help, and physical acts of kindness toward themselves. The school psychologists also shared several self-care characteristics, such as mindfulness, common humanity, and kindness. In addition, the researcher found that increasing the school psychologists’ self-confidence and positivity influenced their performance of their duties as caregiving leaders and improved their overall job performance. Additionally, school psychologists influence their colleagues and peers in many ways. School psychologists’ self-compassion, self-care, and self-efficacy helped them manage their stress and burnout. The primary outcomes of self-compassion on preventing burnout included improved mental health, increased resilience, stronger boundaries, and improved mental clarity. The lack of self-awareness among school psychologists contributed to high levels of stress and burnout, leading to adverse outcomes for both the psychologists and the students they serve. The implications for practitioners included mindfulness practice, developing support networks, and creating a culture of self-care and compassion.

The Balancing of Social Identity and Christian Identity in Christian Leadership: Successful Principles for Christian Leaders Operating in the Diverse Cultural Context of Ethiopia

The Balancing of Social Identity and Christian Identity in Christian Leadership: Successful Principles for Christian Leaders Operating in the Diverse Cultural Context of Ethiopia

Girma Altaye Gebremedhin | 2023

Abstract 

The identity quest has intensified globally and locally (Friedman, 2000). The issues relating to identity vary from one context to another. In some western countries, sexual and gender identity-related issues have become critical (Carr, 2010). In the Ethiopian context, issues like ethnicity, language, and traditional religion have become the centerpiece of the sociopolitical life of Ethiopians (Zewde, 2004). Evangelical leaders are not exempt from these issues. The intensified identity quest makes balancing social identity and Christian identity a daily struggle for many evangelical leaders. This study intended to answer three questions: What is the proper balance between social and evangelical Christian identity in the Ethiopian context? How do exemplar leaders maintain the balance between the multiple identities they have? And how do exemplar Christian leaders manage to keep their Christian identity to be their core identity? Applying the qualitative case study method, framed by social identity theory and the related social categorization theory, and interviewing 18 exemplar leaders from the evangelical community in Ethiopia, successful principles were drawn. The study confirmed that balancing social identity and Christianity identity is a daily struggle for evangelical Christian leaders in Ethiopia. The study also revealed the growing importance of identity in leadership. Nicholson and Carrol (2013) concluded that the global identity quest resurfaced identity as an essential dimension of leadership. The findings of this study reveal that Christian leadership has to pay due attention to the issue of identity. One can argue that developing skills for balancing social identity and Christian identity has become crucial for effectiveness in Christian leadership. This study revealed some fundamental principles for balancing social and Christian identity, which are discussed.

Comparing Organizational Change Impacting Commitment and Burnout on Essential Childcare Workers During COVID-19: A Qualitative Analysis

Comparing Organizational Change Impacting Commitment and Burnout on Essential Childcare Workers During COVID-19: A Qualitative Analysis

Kimberly Amanda Gentry | 2023

Abstract 

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the impact of organizational change on both organizational commitment and employee burnout, specifically related to COVID-19 through a postpandemic lens. The conceptual background of the study highlighted the importance of this research, and the study was designed to answer the call by numerous scholars including Yates (2022), Jung et al. (2020), Kim et al. (2016), Allen et al. (2007), and Peng et al. (2020). Based on the body of previous literature, a qualitative bounded case study fell into place as the research methodology. The researcher interviewed 12 research participants following the interview guide derived from literature and answered the two research questions: 1. Utilizing the theoretical constructs derived from Maslach’s Burnout Inventory and Meyer & Allen’s Organizational Commitment, in what ways did COVID-19 impact the essential worker’s organizational commitment and level of burnout in childcare-focused organizations comparing nonprofit and for-profit small businesses? 2. Through the lens of influence with Kotter’s eight steps of organizational change, is employee burnout related to organizational commitment within nonprofit and for-profit organizations? Qualitative data were collected and analyzed by the researcher and coded using ATLAS.ti software. The two cycles of qualitative coding including descriptive and thematic coding were used, and a total of 10 themes emerged for greater understanding. The themes found included leadership, COVID, communication, motivation, perspective, atmosphere, strategy, COVID accommodations, communication (comparison), and deficiencies. Practical implications, limitations of the research, and future recommendations are provided to conclude the study.