Differences in the use of strength-based leadership among Spanish Armed Forces commissioned officers

• Fernando Díez ^[1] ; Pedro C. Martínez-Morán ^[2] ; José R. Sánchez Isla ^[1] ; Elene Igoa Iraola ^[1] ; Elena Quevedo Torrientes ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad de Deusto

     Universidad de Deusto

     Bilbao, España

     
  2. [2] Pontifical University of Comillas, Spain
• Localización: Revista de psicología del trabajo y de las organizaciones = Journal of work and organizational psychology, ISSN 1576-5962, Vol. 41, Nº 1, 2025, págs. 1-9
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.5093/jwop2025a1
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Las diferencias en el uso del liderazgo basado en la fuerza entre los oficiales de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    Este estudio examina el liderazgo basado en fortalezas dentro de las Fuerzas Armadas españolas, centrándose en su influencia según el cuerpo, empleo y género de los oficiales. El liderazgo basado en fortalezas aprovecha las capacidades personales para mejorar el liderazgo y el rendimiento organizacional. La investigación tomó una muestra de oficiales del Ejército de Tierra, la Armada, el Ejército del Aire y del Espacio y los Cuerpos Comunes, utilizando el Cuestionario de Liderazgo en Fortalezas para evaluar cinco dimensiones: Implementador, Innovador, Motivador, Analítico y Mediador. Los resultados muestran un uso ligeramente mayor, aunque no estadísticamente significativo, del liderazgo basado en fortalezas en el Ejército de Tierra, sin diferencias notables en cuanto a rango o género. El estudio destaca la importancia de un modelo de liderazgo que incorpore las fortalezas individuales y apunta a la posibilidad de ampliar su aplicación a otras unidades militares españolas.

  • English

    This study investigates how strength-based leadership functions within the Spanish Armed Forces. Strength-based leadership is a model that emphasizes leveraging personal strengths to enhance leadership capabilities and organizational performance. The research aims to explore the influence of strength-based leadership in relation to branch, rank, and gender among Commissioned Officers in the Spanish Armed Forces. The study was conducted using a sample of Commissioned Officers from the Army, Navy, Air and Space Force, and Joint Corps, differentiated by rank and gender. The Strengths Leadership Questionnaire was used to measure the following dimensions: Implementer, Innovator, Motivator, Analytical, and Mediator. The main conclusions of this research indicate that there is a greater, though not statistically significant, application of strength-based leadership among members of the Army. No appreciable differences were observed regarding rank or gender among military leaders. The results highlight the importance of developing a leadership model that considers individual strengths, with potential for extending its application to other Spanish military units.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Aguinis, H., Gottfredson, R. K., & Joo, H. (2012). Delivering effective performance feedback: The strengths-based approach. Business Horizons,...
  • Alblooshi, M., Shamsuzzaman, M., & Haridy, S. (2020). The relationship between leadership styles and organisational innovation. European...
  • Ali, N. M., Jangga, R., Ismail, M., Kamal, S. N. I. M., & Ali, M. N. (2015). Influence of leadership styles in creating quality work culture....
  • Almatrooshi, B., Singh, S. K., & Farouk, S. (2016). Determinants of organizational performance: A proposed framework. International Journal...
  • Anning-Dorson, T. (2018). Innovation and competitive advantage creation: The role of organisational leadership in service firms from emerging...
  • BOE núm. 46, de 23 de febrero de 1988 (p. 5672)
  • Buckingham, M., & Clifton, D. O. (2001). Now, discover your strengths. Simon and Schuster.
  • Burkus D. (2011). Building the strong organization: Exploring the role of organizational design in SBL. Journal of Strategic Leadership, 3(1),...
  • Chérif, L., Wood, V., & Wilkin, M. (2021). An investigation of the character strengths and resilience of future military leaders. Journal...
  • Chu, X., Ding, H., Zhang, L., & Li, Z. (2022). Strengths-based leadership and turnover intention: The roles of felt obligation for constructive...
  • Cummings, G., Tate, K., Lee, S., Wong, C., Paananen, T., Micaroni, S., & Chatterjee, G. (2018). Leadership styles and outcome patterns...
  • Dermol, V., & Širca, N. T. (2018). Communication, company mission, organizational values, and company performance. Procedia-social and...
  • Díez, F., Martínez-Morán, P. C., & Aurrekoetxea-Casaus, M. (2023). The learning process to become a military leader: Born, background...
  • Ding, H., Liu, J., & Yu, E. (2023). How and when do strengths work? The effect of SBL on follower career satisfaction. Personnel Review,...
  • Ding, H., Liu, J., & Yu, E. (2024). How and when do strengths work? The effect of SBL on follower career satisfaction. Personnel Review,...
  • Ding, H., & Quan, G. (2021). How and when does follower’s strengths-based leadership relate to follower innovative behavior: The roles...
  • Ding H., & Yu E. (2020a). Follower SBL and follower innovative behavior: The roles of core self-evaluations and psychological well-being....
  • Ding, H., & Yu, E. (2020b). Subordinate-oriented SBL and subordinate job performance: The mediating effect of supervisor-subordinate guanxi....
  • Ding, H., & Yu, E. (2022a). How and when does follower’s SBL contribute to follower work engagement? The roles of strengths use and core...
  • Ding, H., & Yu, E. (2022b). SBL and employee psychological well-being: A moderated mediation model. Journal of Career Development, 49(5),...
  • Ding, H., Yu, E., & Li, Y. (2020). SBL and its impact on task performance: A preliminary study. South African Journal of Business Management,...
  • Drønnen, M. (2022). The strength-based leader. In M. Drønnen (Ed.), Positive leadership: Using positive psychology for a better workplace...
  • Gayton, S. D., & Kehoe, E. J. (2019). Character strengths of junior Australian Army officers. Military Medicine, 184(5-6), e147-e153....
  • Inceoglu, I., Thomas, G., Chu, C., Plans, D., & Gerbasi, A. (2018). Leadership behavior and employee well-being: An integrated review...
  • Jiang, H., & Men, R. L. (2017). Creating an engaged workforce: The impact of authentic leadership, transparent organizational communication,...
  • Jit, R., Sharma, C. S., & Kawatra, M. (2017). Healing a broken spirit: Role of servant leadership. Vikalpa, 42(2), 80-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0256090917703754
  • Karaszewski, R., & Drewniak, R. (2021). The leading traits of the modern corporate leader: Comparing survey results from 2008 and 2018....
  • Key-Roberts, M. (2014). SBL theory and development of subordinate leaders. Military Review, 94(2), 4-13.
  • Kim, M., & Beehr, T. A. (2018). Organization-based self-esteem and meaningful work mediate effects of empowering leadership on employee...
  • Koohang, A., Paliszkiewicz, J., & Goluchowski, J. (2017). The impact of leadership on trust, knowledge management, and organizational...
  • Kotter, J. P. (1990). What leaders really do. Havard Business Review, 68(3), 103-111.
  • Lee, K. S. (2015). Contemporary human resource and talent management: Building SBL capabilities. ASM Business Review, 4, 90-96.
  • Limsila, K., & Ogunlana, S. O. (2008). Performance and leadership outcome correlates of leadership styles and subordinate commitment....
  • Linley, P., Govindji, R., & West, M. (2007). Positive psychology approaches to public services leadership: An introduction to strengths-based...
  • Liu, Q., & Tong, Y. (2022). Employee growth mindset and innovative behavior: The roles of employee strengths use and SBL. Frontiers in...
  • Malik, M. F., Khan, M. A., & Mahmood, S. (2021). Increasing the efficiency of business process through authentic leaders and follower’s...
  • Newstead, T., Dawkins, S., Macklin, R., & Martin, A. (2021). We don’t need more leaders–We need more good leaders. Advancing a virtues-based...
  • Northouse, P. G. (2020). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. SAGE Publications Inc.
  • Oreg, S., & Berson, Y. (2019). Leaders’ impact on organizational change: Bridging theoretical and methodological chasms. Academy of Management...
  • Rath T., & Conchie B. (2008). SBL: Great leaders, teams, and why people follow. Gallup Press.
  • Robertson, I. T., & Cooper, C. L. (2010). Full engagement: The integration of employee engagement and psychological well-being. Leadership...
  • Saha, R., Shashi, Cerchione, R., Singh, R., & Dahiya, R. (2020). Effect of ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility on firm...
  • Schermuly, C., Creon, L., Gerlach, P., Graßmann, C., & Koch, J. (2022). Leadership styles and psychological empowerment: A meta-analysis....
  • Setiawan, R., Cavaliere, L. P. L., Navarro, E. R., Wisetsri, W., Jirayus, P., Chauhan, S., Tabuena, A. C., & Rajan, R. (2021). The impact...
  • Stanton, N. (Ed.). (2011). Trust in military teams. Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
  • Stewart, J. S., Oliver, E. G., Cravens, K. S., & Oishi, S. (2017). Managing millennials: Embracing generational differences. Business...
  • Subramony, M., Segers, J., Chadwick, C., & Shyamsunder, A. (2018). Leadership development practice bundles and organizational performance:...
  • Taiwo, A. A., & Lawal, F. A. (2016). Vision and mission in organization: Myth or heuristic device? The International Journal of Business...
  • Uhl-Bien, M., & Arena, M. (2018). Leadership for organizational adaptability: A theoretical synthesis and integrative framework. The Leadership...
  • Van Woerkom M., & Meyers M. C. (2015). My strengths count! Effects of a strengths-based psychological climate on positive affect and job...
  • Van Woerkom M., Mostert K., Els C., Bakker A. B., De Beer L., & Rothmann S. (2016). Strengths use and deficit correction in organizations:...
  • Walsh, M. M., & Arnold, K. A. (2020). The bright and dark sides of employee mindfulness: Leadership style and employee well-being. Stress...
  • Wang, F., & Ding, H. (2023). SBL and employee strengths use: The roles of strengths self-efficacy and job insecurity. Revista de Psicología...
  • Wang, J., van Woerkom, M., Breevaart, K., Bakker, A. B., & Xu, S. (2023). SBL and employee work engagement: A multi-source study. Journal...
  • Warren, R. (2017). SBL assessments miss the target - and the species. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal,...
  • Wu, C.-H., & Parker, S. K. (2017). The role of leader support in facilitating proactive work behavior: A perspective from attachment Theory....