PurposeThe aim of the research is to investigate the influence of leadership on firm financial performance and to explore the mediating role of employees' readiness to change.Design/methodology/approachThe paper hypothesizes that employees' readiness to change mediates the relationship between leadership and firm financial performance. A total of 213 employees of Greek shipping firms completed questionnaires examining their firms' leadership style and concurrently, their supervisors appraised their readiness to change. The research model was tested with the use of Structural Equation Modelling.FindingsThe research findings note the importance of leadership in fostering firm financial performance; they describe how each leadership style influences employees' readiness to change; as well as, they confirm that employee readiness mediates the relationship between leadership and firm financial performance. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are analysed.Research limitations/implicationsGiven that the research was conducted during the severe Greek economic crisis, a time when employees' behaviour is highly influenced by distinctive and complex internal and external relationships, there is scope for further work to verify that the relationships identified in this study remain valid during periods when market conditions are more favourable.Practical implicationsThe findings provide further support on the significance of employees' readiness to change and the paper suggests policies for its development.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in the finding that employees' readiness to change mediates the relationship between leadership and firm financial performance. Further, the study was carried out in Greek shipping industry that plays a vital role in the international shipping industry which is responsible for the carriage of around 90% of world trade.

Purpose -The aim of the research is to investigate the influence of emotional attitudes towards change on managers' tolerance of ambiguity. Design/methodology/approach -A total of 70 CEOs of Greek IT firms completed questionnaires examining tolerance of ambiguity, emotional attitudes towards change ambiguity and job satisfaction. Principal components analysis and ordinary regression analyses were used to explore the hypotheses. Findings -The paper finds that three factors characterize managers' emotional attitudes towards change, namely dominance, arousal, and pleasure. Furthermore, it indicates that job satisfaction can be taken as a critical intervention variable that "energizes" managers' arousal (i.e. stimulation, excitement and frenzy) which, in turn, influences their tolerance of ambiguity. Research limitations/implications -Deeper and broader level of research is necessary in Greek IT industry regarding the influence of emotional attitudes on tolerance of ambiguity. Likewise, this research should be expanded to other industries. Practical implications -The findings provide further support on the significance of emotional attitudes during change and the paper suggests policies to enhance managers' tolerance of ambiguity. Originality/value -The originality of this study lies in the finding that job satisfaction energizes the arousal factor, which, in turn, influences significantly managers' tolerance of ambiguity. Another important contributing factor is that the study is carried out in Greece, where few studies have been conducted in this area.

This work focuses on how mixed feelings serve adaptive functions in organizational change. Failing to recognize that attitudes to change may involve both positive and negative evaluations of the change at the same time may affect change implementation. This article explored the relationship between ambivalence to change and adaptive performance in the context of an acquisition using a diary study. We also examined work engagement and job crafting as specific conditions under which ambivalence can lead to adaptive or nonadaptive courses of action. Our results showed that the relationship between ambivalence to change and adaptive performance is positive but not robust. We uncovered two conditions that increase ambivalent employees’ chances to adapt to organizational change: (1) either employees display high work engagement or (2) they display high reducing demands and low seeking resources. Analyses of change recipients’ reactions beyond dichotomous ones and their mechanisms will better inform practitioners and researchers.

PurposeBy drawing on the need to belong theory, the paper aims to propose a moderated mediation model to examine the role of workplace belongingness and meaning-making in the positive relationship between inclusive leadership and employee change participation.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 155 employees from 31 teams from a branch of a multinational pharmaceutical company located in an EU country. The company faces constant legal, regulatory and technology-related changes after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. Data were collected in three waves, approximately three weeks apart between March 2020 and May 2020. To test the mediating effect of workplace belongingness were performed first – a series of regression analyses – and second, bootstrapping to assess the statistical significance of the indirect effect (Preacher and Hayes, 2008).FindingsWorkplace belongingness mediates the relationship between inclusive leadership and employees change participation. Further, the research findings provide support that meaning-making moderates the relationship between workplace belongingness and change participation as well as the indirect relationship between inclusive leadership and change participation through workplace belongingness such that the positive relationships are stronger when meaning-making is higher.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that should leaders and change management practitioners manage to influence positively employees' workplace belongingness by employing inclusive practices and procedures; leaders and change management practitioners will increase the level of participation during change and further the results note from an applied perspective the importance of mean-making as a facilitating factor during change in organizational settings. Relevant suggestions are made.Originality/valueThe findings provide new insights into how inclusive leadership and workplace belongingness can affect employees' change participation. Further, the research findings note the significant moderating role of meaning-making regarding both the relationship between workplace belongingness and change participation as well as the indirect relationship between inclusive leadership and change participation through workplace belongingness.

PurposeThe aim of this research is to investigate the influence of hybrid knowledge management in workers' productivity and tolerance of ambiguity.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted before and after the implementation of the Communication and Knowledge Motivator (CKM) model in Hellenic Railways Organization (2004 and 2008). Survey data were collected from 352 workers. In the first phase (2004), workers' productivity, ambiguity tolerance and demographical characteristics were examined. In the second phase (2008), the same measurements were performed. Ordinary regressions (enter and stepwise) were used to explore the research hypotheses.FindingsThe paper finds that workers' productivity and tolerance of ambiguity is positively affected by the CKM model. Further, it confirms the significant influence of workers' ambiguity tolerance in their productivity, before and after the implementation of the CKM model.Research limitations/implicationsWorkers' productivity might be influenced by the Hawthorne effect or by other emotional/cognitive attitudes. There is no such earlier measurement in Greece to compare and appraise the research findings and overall, the CKM model. Further research needs to be conducted in the Greek public sector.Practical implicationsThe research findings suggest that the CKM model affects positively workers' productivity and ambiguity tolerance. Additionally, they note that workers' tolerance of ambiguity affects significantly their productivity.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in the CKM model that may influence positively workers' productivity and ambiguity tolerance. The study was carried out in Greece where few relevant studies have been conducted.