How identity leadership at various university hierarchy levels shapes researchers’ well-being and performance
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21784282 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Benedikt E Kratzer (0009-0009-1760-7494, corresponding author), Sebastian Bänfer, Niklas K Steffens (0000-0002-3990-2592), Rolf Van Dick (0000-0002-6308-9466) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Educational Management Administration & Leadership (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1741-1432 • E-ISSN: 1741-1440 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/17411432251396677 |
| OpenAlex | W4416717626 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 82 |
In the competitive world of academia, maintaining a productive and healthy life as a researcher is a significant challenge. This paper argues that identity leadership that focuses on fostering shared social identity (a sense of “we” and “us”) contributes meaningfully to researchers’ well-being and productivity. In a field study of 481 early and mid-career researchers (PhD researchers and postdocs) in Germany, academic supervisors’ identity leadership significantly contributed to better team performance (number of publications, reviews, successful funding proposals, presentations), as well as individuals’ OCB, innovation, and well-being (job satisfaction, reduced burnout). As hypothesized, supervisors played a central role, but identity leadership from senior administrators (head of unit, dean, university president) also contributed to these outcomes. Mediation analyses revealed that supervisors’ identity leadership exerted indirect effects through team identification, and to a lesser extent through trust in the leader. These findings show that academic leaders who cultivate shared identity can not only protect researchers’ well-being but also promote their productivity and innovation
Hierarchy · Identity management · Leadership · Leadership studies · Mediation · Productivity · Shared leadership · Social identity theory · Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Management and Organizational Studies
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |