Workplace Well-being: How to Build Psychologically Healthy Workplaces

11 Leadership and Climate in a Psychologically Healthy Workplace

Karina Nielsen

Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK

Leadership is concerned with how some individuals have disproportionate power and influence to set the agenda, define organizational identity, and mobilize people to achieve collective goals (Hogg, 2001). Leaders at the first-line level are particularly important in creating psychologically healthy workplaces for at least four reasons. First, first-line leaders are viewed as the proximal influences on their direct followers as they function as role models and communicate the necessary information to their followers (Barling, Christie, & Hoption, 2011). Second, first-line leaders play a decisive role in achieving organizational objectives and maintaining staff well-being (Hiller, Day, & Vance, 2006; Nielsen & Randall, 2009). Third, first-line leaders high in positive moods and emotions may influence their followers’ moods and emotions through contagion processes (Bakker, Westman, & van Emmerik, 2009). Fourth, first-line leaders who focus on creating a healthy workplace (e.g., discussing health-related topics with followers and encouraging followers to engage in health-promoting activities) foster a psychological climate and a feeling among employees that health is a primary concern within the organization and this is related to job satisfaction and reduced irritation (Gurt, Schwennen, & Elke, 2011). The role of leaders in creating ...