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Empowerment Through Inclusion: The Dynamics of Inclusive Leadership, Authentic Expression, and Perceived Self-Status
Tuong-Vy Nguyen1, Ummugulsum Gunes1
1National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
The Journal of Social Psychology
|July 18, 2026
Summary
Inclusive leadership significantly boosts employee empowerment by fostering authentic expression and self-perceived status. This research offers insights into leadership
Area of Science:
- Organizational Behavior
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Inclusive leadership is increasingly recognized for its potential to influence employee attitudes and behaviors.
- Understanding the psychological mechanisms linking leadership styles to employee empowerment is crucial for organizational success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the serial mediating roles of authentic expression and self-perceived status in the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee psychological empowerment.
- To examine the moderating effect of employee self-esteem on this relationship.
- To provide theoretical and practical insights into fostering employee empowerment through leadership.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted: a two-wave online survey of 120 university interns in Vietnam and a randomized vignette experiment with 220 full-time employees in Taiwan.
- Social identity theory was used as the theoretical framework.
- Statistical analyses were employed to test the proposed serial mediation and moderation models.
Main Results:
- Inclusive leadership practices were found to significantly enhance employee psychological empowerment in both studies.
- Employee authentic expression and self-perceived status serially mediated the positive impact of inclusive leadership on psychological empowerment.
- Employee self-esteem moderated the relationship, influencing the strength of the effect.
Conclusions:
- Inclusive leadership is a key driver of employee psychological empowerment.
- The findings underscore the importance of fostering an environment where employees feel safe to express themselves authentically and perceive higher status.
- Organizations can leverage these insights to develop leadership training programs aimed at enhancing employee empowerment.
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