Title: Empowering leadership in cognitive processes and behavioural dynamics: a thematic analysis

Authors: Anjali Rai

Addresses: Department of OB and HR, ICFAI Business School (IBS) Hyderabad, A Constituent of IFHE (Deemed-to-be University), Hyderabad, India

Abstract: This thematic analysis explores unpacking empowering leadership through behavioural dynamics and cognitive mechanisms. Empowering leadership is a multi-faceted approach that helps followers to feel competent, autonomous, and purposeful. This study reports how empowering leadership may influence behaviours and cognitions among business professionals, taking an idiographic approach of capturing qualitative data on the subject from existing literature and semi-structured interviews. The analysis inspires leaders capable of empowering followers by understanding their psychological needs thoroughly, adopting an inclusive decision-making process, and creating a healthy work environment. This research shed some light on how empowering leadership leads to leaders empowering their followers through affect, creativity infusion, and job satisfaction. The significance of these findings to organisational practice underscores the importance of facilitative leadership behaviours that advance individual and organisational successes. Empowering leadership behaviours must be encouraged to create better outcomes at the personal and organisational levels.

Keywords: empowering leadership; cognitive processes; behavioural dynamics; thematic analysis; participative decision-making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2025.147099

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2025 Vol.24 No.1/2, pp.1 - 19

Received: 06 Mar 2024
Accepted: 30 Oct 2024
Published online: 10 Jul 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article