Leadership styles and safety culture – a meta-analytic study

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to quantitatively review previous empirical studies on leadership style and safety culture using meta-analysis and identify the most influential leadership style across organizations. Further, the moderating effect of riskiness in the organizational process on the relationship between leadership style and safety culture was also done. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a systematic literature review and applied meta-analysis based on 24 empirical studies to calculate the effect size for the relationships between leadership style and safety culture. Findings A substantial effect size between leadership style and safety culture (r = 0.50). It was interesting to note the significant relationship between leadership and safety culture, irrespective of high- and low-risk organizations. Moreover, empowering leadership style (r = 0.60) emerged as the most influential leadership style across all organizations and in high-risk organizations. Originality/value The meta-analysis established leadership as an essential antecedent of safety culture and suggests implications for future research and practice related to safety and leadership.