“Benevolent leadership,” combined with best practices, can improve overall organizational well-being, researchers determined from a study of 350 respondents at knowledge-worker institutions. These findings were published on Aug. 13, in the journal Scientific Reports.
For the purposes of the study, benevolent leadership was defined as a style “characterized by warmth and a paternalistic approach.” Ultimately, researchers found that this approach can create the kind of workplace environment that encourages knowledge-sharing and promotes organizational learning.
Why HR should care
The Scientific Reports study fills in “a significant gap” in existing organizational research, which tends to focus on “transactional” leadership styles, the report noted.
The findings can help guide employers when it comes to creating a learning and development strategy. Business leaders have a direct impact on company culture and workplace learning, the report found.
“Leaders shape formal policies and informally influence the social norms that can foster an environment conducive to learning,” researchers said.
And in general, learning is increasingly crucial in talent attraction. More than half of Generation Zers said they’re prioritizing roles with personal development opportunities in their job search, according to an August report from Flexa.
More specifically, Gen Zers were 68% more likely than their millennial, Gen X and baby boomer counterparts to seek jobs with concrete L&D benefits, such as language lessons, mentor programs and study leave.
Success depends on more than “warmth”
From the researchers’ perspective, these findings challenge the idea that benevolent leadership “inherently promotes a learning environment.” Instead, it takes benevolent leadership, plus trust and open communication, the report finds.
Regarding trust, benevolent leaders are the type to empower workers by “delegating meaningful tasks and providing the necessary resources and autonomy to complete them, making them feel valued and part of the organization’s goals.”
And regarding open communication, researchers said that benevolent leadership inspires a workplace culture where “knowledge is not hoarded but shared freely among peers.” Knowledge sharing and open communication cannot exist without each other, researchers said.
