I can’t express myself at work: encouraging socially responsible leadership and psychological safety in higher education setting

In the context of Uganda’s public universities, this article examines the ideas of psychological safety and socially responsible leadership. This article also draws attention to the importance of creating a welcoming and safe atmosphere in academic settings, as well as the part that leaders play in encouraging moral behavior. It looks at how important these ideas are for fostering an environment that is supportive, welcoming, and empowering for employees. Our study highlights the significance of psychological safety and socially responsible leadership for the success and well-being of employees in Uganda’s public universities through a review of the literature and research. Thus, the goal of this research is to investigate the connection between socially responsible leadership and psychological safety. 214 respondents from Uganda’s public universities provided usable questionnaires using a cross-sectional and correlational design. Smart PLS-SEM and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used to examine the data. The findings show a positive and significant relationship between psychological safety and socially responsible leadership. This study offers insights into our current understanding of the relationship between psychological safety and socially responsible leadership. Creating a culture that fosters psychological safety contributes to innovation, collaboration, and the overall success staff and university. Simultaneously, socially responsible leadership promotes inclusivity, sustainable practices, and community engagement, leading to a positive effect on society. Our study also contributes to the understanding of social exchange theory by recognizing the importance of intangible exchanges, such as trust, respect, and support. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.