Paternalistic leadership and its effects on employee behaviour in the Pakistani healthcare sector

The main objective of healthcare organisations is to deliver quality healthcare services to meet public needs globally. Improving organisational performance in terms of better healthcare services, high-quality patient safety and satisfaction are significant challenges for healthcare institutions. The present study aimed to discuss role of paternalistic leadership in shaping employee service behaviours which include in-role service behaviour, helping behaviour, patient-oriented organisational citizenship behaviour, service innovation behaviour, and counterproductive work behaviour. Through a survey involving 618 health professionals, this study found that that healthcare leaders' behaviours influence overall organisational performance through employee service behaviours and highlighted the role of public service motivation. Moreover, this study provides guidelines for healthcare managers to build a paternalistic leadership style compatible with Pakistani culture to enhance employees' outcomes for better patient care.