Sustainability through Humility: The Impact of Humble Leadership on Work–Family Facilitation in the U.S. and Japan

Soyeon Kim, Neena Gopalan () and Nicholas Beutell
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Soyeon Kim: Faculty of International Social Sciences, Gakushuin University, Tokyo 171-0031, Japan
Neena Gopalan: School of Business, University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373, USA
Nicholas Beutell: LaPenta School of Business, Iona University, New Rochelle, NY 10801, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: This study examines the influence of leader humility on work–family facilitation (WFF) in the U.S. and Japan by exploring the mediating roles of the four dimensions of psychological empowerment (meaningful work, autonomy, competency, and impact) on this relationship. Drawing from a sample of 392 Japanese employees and 132 U.S. employees, our findings suggest that leader humility is positively related to WFF in both cultural contexts. Meaningful work and departmental impact emerge as significant mediators in both cultures, while the mediation effects of autonomy and competency are valid in Japan only. An additional test reveals that meaningful work is the most significant mediator in both countries, underscoring the pivotal role of leader humility and meaningful work in enhancing WFF. The study adds to the growing literature on the beneficial effects of leader humility on sustainable organizations, while offering insights into improving employee wellbeing and work–life interactions across diverse cultural contexts.

Keywords: leader humility; sustainable organizations; psychological empowerment; meaningful work; work–family facilitation; cross-cultural comparisons (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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