Giving sense about paradoxes: paradoxical leadership in the public sector. Issue 9 (2nd September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Backhaus, Leonie; Reuber, Artur; Vogel, Dominik; Vogel, Rick
• Is Part Of: Public management review. Volume 24:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1478
• Page End: 1498
• Publication Date: 2022-09-02
• Subjects: Paradoxical leadership -- public sector -- job satisfaction -- perceived performance -- structural equation modelling; Local government -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2021.1906935
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-9037

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Although paradoxes are inherent to the public sector, few attempts have been made to better understand how to manage such competing yet interrelated demands effectively. This study examines how paradoxical leadership (i.e., leaders' sense-giving about organizational paradoxes) affects follower outcomes. Based on two-wave survey data from German district offices, structural equation modelling reveals that paradoxical leadership positively influences followers' job satisfaction and work engagement. Role ambiguity fully mediates the relationship between paradoxical leadership and perceived performance. Our study expands the nomological network of public leadership and advances the notion that paradoxes bear potentials for leadership in ambiguous public settings.