Empowering leadership in a military context

Project period
1. Jan 2023 -
31. Dec 2026
Project owner
Norwegian Defence University College
Project manager
Knevelsrud, Hans-Christian
Organization unit
Norwegian Defence University College
Tags
Motivation
Empowerment
Military Administration
Achievement
Job engagement
Funding
The Norwegian Defence Univerity College

Empowering leadership can play a crucial role in stimulating proactive behavior among employees. Most Western militaries have adopted a leadership philosophy emphasizing decentralized decision-making and execution. This approach promotes flexibility and speed by fostering initiative and allowing subordinates to use their competence, creativity, and situational understanding. Although empowering leadership is considered a desirable leadership style in dynamic environments, research has revealed mixed results regarding its effectiveness.

The aim of this study is to enhance our understanding of the significance of empowering leadership in military contexts. The project will assess how various factors moderate its effectiveness and explore how daily leadership behaviors influence employee proactivity, motivation, work engagement, and performance.

Employing a quantitative diary approach, the project will capture thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in real-world military work settings. This methodology allows for an in-depth analysis of the outcomes associated with empowering leadership and the factors affecting its impact on a day-to-day basis.  

The findings are expected to inform and enhance leadership development and training programs. They will provide insight into the dynamics of empowering leadership, particularly its effects on employee motivation, proactivity, engagement, and performance. Furthermore, the study will explore the effects of situational factors and individual differences in shaping the effectiveness of this leadership style. Collectively, these insights can contribute to advancing leadership practices within the mission command philosophy framework.