Denne artikel diskuterer et særligt perspektiv i arbejdslivsforskningen, som
argumenterer for, at selvledelse medfører stress, fordi selvledelse giver overarbejde,
dårlig balance mellem arbejde og privatliv samt uklare jobkrav. Disse
antagelser undersøges empirisk ved hjælp af et mixed methods studie i den
danske nyhedsbranche. Analyserne viser stik i mod de teoretiske forventninger
i arbejdslivsforskningen, at selvledelse korrelerer negativt med medarbejdernes
oplevelse af stress. Samtidig forstærkes denne negative korrelation
mellem selvledelse og stress yderligere, hvis forhold som overarbejde, dårlig
balance mellem arbejde og privatliv og uklare jobkrav også tages i betragtning.
Afslutningsvis bliver de teoretiske og praktiske implikationer af undersøgelsen
diskuteret i relation til selvledelse i danske virksomheder.
ENGELSK ABSTRACT:
Signe Pihl-Thingvad: Managing Knowledge Workers: Self-leadership and Psychosocial Work Environment
This article discusses a specific perspective of working life research which argues that self-leadership causes stress among knowledge workers, as self-leadership results in overtime, a poor work-life balance as well as unclear job demands. These assumptions are examined empirically by a mixed methods study of the Danish news industry. The analyses show, contrary to the expectations of working life research, that self-leadership reduces the employees’ stress itself, and also reduces employees’ stress if we also include conditions such as overtime, work-life balance and job demands. Finally, the theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed in relation to self-leadership in Danish companies.
Key words: Self-leadership, mental working environment, knowledge work, commitment, news industry.