The impact of servant leadership dimensions on leader-member exchange among health care professionals

• Published in: Journal of nursing management Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 228 - 234
• Main Authors: Hanse, Jan Johansson, Harlin, Ulrika, Jarebrant, Caroline, Ulin, Kerstin, Winkel, Jörgen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2016; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Applied Psychology; Arbetslivsstudier; Cross-Sectional Studies; Environmental Health and Occupational Health; Female; Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi; Health care; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Job Satisfaction; Leader-member exchange; Leadership; Male; Medical Staff, Hospital - organization & administration; Medical Staff, Hospital - psychology; Middle Aged; Miljömedicin och yrkesmedicin; Nursing; Nursing Staff, Hospital - organization & administration; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Nursing, Supervisory - organization & administration; Personnel Turnover; Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics; Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi; Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology; Servant leadership; Social exchange; Sweden; Tillämpad psykologi; Work Sciences; Sweden; social exchange; leader-member exchange; servant leadership; health care; leadership
• ISSN: 0966-0429; 1365-2834; 1365-2834
• DOI: 10.1111/jonm.12304

Aim The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of servant leadership dimensions on leader–member exchange (LMX) among health‐care professionals. Background Leadership support and the quality of the dyadic relationship between the leader and the employee are essential regarding the work environment and turnover intentions in health care. Method A questionnaire‐based cross‐sectional study was undertaken at four hospital units in Sweden. The study sample included 240 employees. Results Significant bivariate correlations were found between all servant leadership dimensions and LMX. The strongest correlations were found between ‘humility’ and LMX (r = 0.69, P < 0.001), and ‘empowerment’ and LMX (r = 0.67, P < 0.001). The hierarchical regression analyses indicated that ‘empowerment’, ‘humility’ and ‘stewardship’ explained about 55% of the variance in LMX. Conclusion In our study servant leadership dimensions were strongly related to LMX. Implications for nursing management The results identify specific servant leadership dimensions that are likely to be useful for developing a stronger exchange relationship between the leader (e.g. nursing manager) and individual subordinates in health care.