ECO-CENTRIC LEADERSHIP REIMAGINED: SPARKING EMPLOYEE GREEN BEHAVIORS AND THRIVING AT WORK THROUGH GREEN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

Sustainability is no longer just a trend—it has emerged as a vital strategy for businesses aiming to foster sustainable practices and maintain their competitive edge. Managers are now expected to consider and align environmental, social, and ethical objectives with organizational strategies to implement eco-friendly practices effectively. This study examines the influence of eco-centric leadership on green behaviors of employees and thriving at work with green digital transformation serving as a mediating mechanism. Grounded in social learning theory, the research employed a survey questionnaire for data collection, utilizing a multi-stage stratified proportional snowball sampling method. The findings reveal that eco-centric leadership positively and significantly influences employee green behavior and workplace thriving. Additionally, green digital transformation mediates the positive relationship between eco-centric leadership and these outcomes. The results highlight the importance of fostering eco-centric leadership to cultivate a workplace environment that promotes ecological values, conservation-oriented beliefs, and employee thriving. These insights have meaningful implications for organizational policy development, underscoring the need to embrace and support eco-conscious leadership styles. This study offers valuable contributions to understanding the interplay between leadership, employee behavior, and sustainable development. It sheds light on how eco-centric leaders drive positive environmental change by influencing employee behaviors through green and digital transformation initiatives.