The Role of Paradoxical Leadership in The Effect of Aviation Sector Employees' Perception of Work Overload on Their Workplace Resilience

Abstract

Purpose – Workplace resilience is important in dynamic areas such as the aviation sector within the scope of the Resource Conservation Theory, which is based on the fact that individuals tend to protect, develop and acquire new resources and experience stress when these resources are threatened or lost. Especially due to the emergence of work overload arising from sectoral dynamics, organisations develop strategies at both individual and organisational levels to minimise the loss of resources in employees and to ensure workplace resilience. From this point of view, the aim of this study is to determine the moderating role of paradoxical leadership in the effect of work overload perceptions of aviation sector employees on workplace resilience.
Design/methodology/approach – The study included 430 people working in the civil aviation sector. A questionnaire form consisting of Demographic Information Form, Perception of Work Overload Scale, Paradoxical Leadership Scale and Workplace Resilience Scale was used to collect the research data. The hypotheses of the study were tested using Smart PLS 4.1 and structural equation modelling within the framework of partial least squares method.
Results – According to the findings of the study, perception of work overload decreases workplace resilience, while paradoxical leadership increases it. However, paradoxical leadership has a moderating role in the effect of work overload perception on workplace resilience. Accordingly, within the framework of the moderating role of paradoxical leadership, the negative effect of work overload perception on workplace resilience decreases.
Discussion – Organisations that want to improve workplace resilience should plan employees' workloads correctly, and emphasise paradoxical leadership with the ability to manage contradictions and foster an environment where both support and high expectations coexist.