Take Home Messages:

As an employer it is important to evaluate and promote good leadership practices in work environments. Good organisational leadership improves job well being and reduces sick leave and early, disability pension retirement.  It has some effect on job satisfaction, although its effect on job performance remains unclear.

Why the research matters:

Organisational factors such as job control and effort reward influence employee health.  

Those in leadership roles provide an intermediary between staff and organisational factors.  Good leadership may have an effect on job satisfaction, health and well being, as well as job performance.

To date, however, the influence of leadership is poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the role of good leadership in the context of an ageing workforce facing increasing employee shortages.

What the research involved:

The study collated information from 27 relevant studies published between 1970 to 2005 that looked at the effect of good leadership in the workplace. The key areas of interest were:

• The effect of good leadership on job well-being and job satisfaction;
• Whether good leadership influences job performance as estimated by supervisors and management; and
• The effect of good leadership on sick leave and early retirement with a disability pension.

Job Well-Being included evaluation of physical and psychological health.

Job performance was evaluated by management of supervisor reporting.

Job satisfaction was typically measured through self reporting.

Summary of research findings:

Good leadership improves job well being and reduces sick leave and early retirement on a disability pension.  

The key findings of the study were:

• There is weak evidence to suggest good leadership improves job satisfaction;
• There is moderate evidence that good leadership improves job well-being;
• There is moderate evidence that good leadership reduces sick leave;
• Two studies were identified that found good leadership reduced early retirement on a disability pension. More research is this area would be beneficial; and
• The effect of good leadership on job performance was unclear and requires further research

Original Research

Leadership, Job Well-Being, and Health Effects—A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis

Kuoppala J, Lamminpää A, Liira J, Vainio H.

J Occup Environ Med. 2008 Aug;50(8):904-15.

Link to PubMed abstract