Toxic Leadership and Internal Marketing: the effect of the HSP trait on satisfaction and engagement

Lin, Patrícia Cai

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/59377

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Authors

Lin, Patrícia Cai

Advisor(s)

Martinez, Luísa M.

Ramos, Filipe R.

Abstract(s)

Leadership fosters trust, engagement, and performance. Strong manageremployee relationships enhance productivity and security, while positive ties improve performance. Leadership sensitivity is crucial for empathy, but toxic leadership harms employees and performance, requiring urgent action. Toxic leadership negatively impacts employee satisfaction and engagement. Harmful traits like intimidation and manipulation alienate employees, weakening team performance. However, there is a lack of research on its specific effects. Understanding these consequences is essential for aligning internal marketing strategies and fostering a healthier work environment, particularly for highly sensitive people (HSP). A quantitative methodology was adopted, through an online questionnaire, disseminated through the Prolific platform. The experimental design follows a between-subject approach, with two questionnaire versions, using a simulated scenario testing the leadership effect (toxic leadership scenario vs. nontoxic leadership scenario). The dependent variables are employee satisfaction and engagement, and the independent variable is toxic leadership. The HSP trait is the moderating variable. Using a quantitative methodology, the study tested the effects of toxic versus non-toxic leadership on satisfaction and engagement, with a particular focus on those with highly sensitive traits (Aron & Aron, 1997). While significant differences were found between leadership conditions, the moderating role of the HSP trait was not confirmed. Furthermore, these findings could reduce turnover and cultivate a more harmonious work culture, emphasizing the need to study the effect of toxic leadership on highly sensitive people, this research aims to address gaps in empirical literature regarding toxic leadership’s impact on employee satisfaction and engagement, especially for HSPs.