Digging Deeper on Challenges and Impacts of Adaptive Leadership Styles in Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture

Abstract

Adaptive leadership has become increasingly important in organizations that must respond to dynamic work environments and diverse employee needs. In the hospitality sector, leadership practices play a crucial role in shaping employee engagement and organizational culture, which are essential for sustaining service quality and organizational performance. This study aimed to examine the challenges and impact of adaptive leadership styles on employee engagement and organizational culture in selected hotels and resorts in Quezon Province. Specifically, it assessed adaptive leadership in terms of emotional intelligence, character, organizational justice, and development; determined its impact on employee work engagement and organizational culture; examined the relationships among adaptive leadership, employee engagement, and organizational culture; identified leadership challenges; and proposed an employee empowerment program. The study employed a mixed-methods convergent parallel research design combining descriptive-correlational quantitative analysis and qualitative thematic analysis. The respondents included 252 participants composed of 231 employees and 21 managers from selected hospitality establishments, while 15 managers participated in in-depth interviews. Data were collected through a validated survey questionnaire and interview guide and analyzed using weighted mean, standard deviation, Likert scale interpretation, Pearson r correlation, and thematic coding. Results showed that adaptive leadership positively influenced employee engagement (overall mean = 4.21) and organizational culture (overall mean = 4.21). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between adaptive leadership and employee engagement (r = .744, p = .000), adaptive leadership and organizational culture (r = .786, p = .000), and employee engagement and organizational culture (r = .817, p = .000). Qualitative findings further indicated that managers demonstrate adaptive leadership through emotional intelligence, empathy, ethical decision-making, and employee development practices, although challenges such as communication barriers, diverse employee personalities, and balancing organizational and employee needs were also reported. In conclusion, findings suggest that adaptive leadership significantly contributes to strengthening employee engagement and cultivating a positive organizational culture in hospitality organizations.