The strategic role of visionary leadership in mitigating the toxic work environment: A survey study of the opinions of a sample of employees in private Universities in Basra Province, Iraq

Abstract

The present study examines the serious importance of visionary leadership in addressing and prevention of toxic workplace in private universities within the Basra Province of Iraq. The work climate impacts a number of aspects in the lives of workers including their health status, job satisfaction and the organization’s performance. Negative consequences indeed arise out of toxic work environments characterized by conflict, poor morale and faulty communication particularly to the individuals and institutions involved. This study adopts a cross-sectional survey strategy that seeks to establish information from a population of employees in private universities in Basra Province. The survey is aimed to reveal the notions and attitudes of these employees concerning the availability of the visionary leadership and its ability to moderate toxic workplaces. Two sample constructs, which are pertinent to the efficient creation of a healthier organizational culture, have been identified in the literature: transformational leadership, which refers to the capacity to mobilise subordinates with a clear vision of the future, and visionary leadership. The research conclusions presented in this paper provided the understanding of the necessity of visionary leadership to achieve a progressive work climate condition, increase employees’ commitment and, thus, improve the performance of private universities in Basra. The findings of the study can serve as a guideline for enhancing leadership training and the optimization of organizational practices aimed at developing positive leadership attributes and counteracting toxic behavior in the workplace; this is particularly useful for academic institutions and other organizations interested in the improvement of various factors affecting productivity and employee satisfaction.