Impact of Servant Leadership on Employee Wellbeing in Healthcare Sector

Abstract

Complex and demanding work in healthcare organizations places the wellbeing of employees at risk and raises question that how to positively influence the functioning and wellbeing of these employees. Over the years strikes by the healthcare professionals in Pakistan aim to bring attention of authorities to the lack of resources, poor working conditions, corruption and need for ethical and accountable leadership. This empirical study is an attempt to investigate the perspectives of public healthcare professionals in twin cities (Islamabad and Rawalpindi) of Pakistan on servant leadership and how it affects employee eudaimonic wellbeing through moral identity, prosocial motivation, and moral distress. The research is guided by Greenleaf's servant leadership theory, which emphasizes leaders serving their teams to foster a supportive environment. Ryan and Deci's self-determination theory is utilized to explain dynamics of moral identity and prosocial motivation in this relationship by fulfilling basic psychological needs. Additionally, Corley's moral distress explores the moderating effects of moral distress on these dynamics. This integrated theoretical framework provides a comprehensive understanding of how servant leadership influences wellbeing in a healthcare context. Data was collected through convenience sampling from 294 doctors. Structural equation modelling was employed for data analysis. The study reveals that the subordinates who perceive their leader as a servant leader have high prosocial motivation, and in turn they have higher levels of eudaimonic wellbeing, employees with high moral identity negatively affect the relationship between servant leadership and prosocial motivation and moral distress negatively affects the relationship between prosocial motivation and eudaimonic wellbeing. The findings of study suggest that organizations that seek to promote the employee wellbeing may benefit by stimulating servant leadership and prosocial motivation in their employee’s perception and reduce moral distress so that employees may use their best potentials. The study adds to the understanding of role of servant leadership, moral identity, prosocial motivation, moral distress in shaping employee eudaimonic wellbeing in healthcare sector.