The influence of workplace isolation on the relationship between servant leadership self-efficaay and job outcomes

Abstract

Recently, many insurance companies have engaged teleworkers for their business development. Despite the effectiveness of teleworking, reduced social interaction with colleagues and supervisors caused workplace isolation among teleworkers which affects their job outcomes. Literature has accredited the role of servant leadership and self-efficacy in reducing workplace isolation among teleworkers. However, little attention has been paid to analyze the relationship of servant leadership, workplace isolation, self-efficacy and job outcomes in the context of insurance companies. The study investigated the relationship of servant leadership and job outcomes with mediating role of workplace isolation between servant leadership and job outcomes. Besides that, the moderating effect of self-efficacy on the relationship of servant leadership and workplace isolation among teleworkers of insurance companies in Pakistan was also studied. The current study employed a quantitative research design using self-administrated questionnaires to collect data from a random sample of 550 teleworkers of Pakistani insurance companies. After initial data screening, 388 questionnaires were deemed usable for further analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS 21 software was employed to test the hypotheses of the study. The results showed that servant leadership has a positive influence on job outcomes and is negatively related with workplace isolation. In addition, workplace isolation has a negative effect on job outcomes and it mediates the relationship of servant leadership with job outcomes. The study has shown that self-efficacy moderates the relationship between servant leadership and workplace isolation. Based on the findings, managers of insurance companies are suggested to practice servant leadership to reduce workplace isolation among teleworkers.