Acta Univ. Bohem. Merid. 2025, 28(1):14-33 | DOI: 10.32725/acta.2025.002327

Does Thought Leadership Enhance Managerial Performance? Mediating Role of Social-skills and Moderating the Role of Gender

Daniel Nii Okaijah Welbeck1, Kofi Amponsah-Bediako2, Emmanuel Selase Asamoah3, Aba Quayson1, David Mensah Awadzie4
1 Department of Business Administration, UPSA Accra
2 Human Resource Department, Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), Ghana
3 Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Studies, UPSA Accra
4 Accounting and Finance, Wisconsin International University College, Ghana

This paper investigates the role of thought leadership in enhancing managerial performance with a specific focus on the mediating role of social-skills and the moderating role of gender. This study employs a cross-sectional quantitative approach deploying a questionnaire to collect data from 523 line managers of registered SMEs in Ghana. The findings signal a significant and positive linkage between thought leadership and managerial performance mediated by social-skills. However, gender has no significant moderating effect on this relationship. The study emphasises the need for owner-managers to invest in the acquisition of thought leadership and social-skills to improve the performance and sustainability of their organisations. These results have important implications for managerial training and development in SMEs and provide a basis for future research in this area.

Keywords: Thought leadership, social-skills, gender, managerial performance, SMEs, SmartPLS
JEL classification: I11, I21, M10

Received: January 6, 2025; Revised: May 7, 2025; Accepted: June 25, 2025; Prepublished online: June 25, 2025; Published: June 27, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Nii Okaijah Welbeck, D., Amponsah-Bediako, K., Asamoah, E.S., Quayson, A., & Awadzie, D.M. (2025). Does Thought Leadership Enhance Managerial Performance? Mediating Role of Social-skills and Moderating the Role of Gender. Acta Universitatis Bohemiae Meridionalis, 28(1), 14-33. doi: 10.32725/acta.2025.002
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Addy, W. A., Ajayi-Nifise, A. O., Bello, B. G., Tula, S. T., Odeyemi, O., & Falaiye, T. (2024). Entrepreneurial leadership in high-tech industries: A review of key traits and success strategies. GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 18(2), 286-296. Go to original source...
    2. Ahsan, M. J. (2024). Unlocking sustainable success: Exploring the impact of transformational leadership, organisational culture, and CSR performance on financial performance in the Italian manufacturing sector. Social Responsibility Journal, 20(4), 783-803. Go to original source...
    3. Agyapong, A., Aidoo, S. O., & Akomea, S. Y. (2022). Does managerial capability always drive performance? Empirical examinations of small and medium firms (SMEs) in a developing economy. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 71(6), 2337-2360. Go to original source...
    4. Alhamami, N. M., Ismail, W. K. W., Kamarudin, S., & Abdullah, F. Z. (2020). Linking emotional intelligence and transformational leadership to job Performance in a conflict-stricken environment. Talent Development & Excellence, 12(3), 2153-2163.
    5. Bari, M. W., Mahmood, F., Qurrah-tul-ain, Bashir, M., & Usman, M. (2021). The role of instrumental guanxi in the relation between entrepreneurs' social competence and firms' financial performance: A comparative study. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istra¾ivanja, 34(1), 243-265. Go to original source...
    6. Barry, J. M., & Gironda, J. T. (2019). Operationalising thought leadership for online B2B marketing. Industrial Marketing Management, 81, 138-159. Go to original source...
    7. Dimitriadis, S., & Koning, R. (2022). Social-skills improve business performance: Evidence from a randomised control trial with entrepreneurs in Togo. Management Science, 68(12), 8635-8657. Go to original source...
    8. Dudzinski, K. (2020). The relationship between emotional intelligence, traits of personality, and performance on occupational therapy fieldwork.
    9. Dwiri, B., & Okatan, K. (2021). The impact of gender on leadership styles and leadership effectiveness. International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 10(1), 1419-1434. Go to original source...
    10. Eibl, B., Lang, F. R., & Niessen, C. (2020). Employee voice at work: The role of employees' gender, self-efficacy beliefs, and leadership. European Journal of Work and Organisational Psychology, 29(4), 570-585. Go to original source...
    11. Fischer, T., & Sitkin, S. B. (2023). Leadership styles: A comprehensive assessment and way forward. Academy of Management Annals, 17(1), 331-372. Go to original source...
    12. Frogner, L., Hellfeldt, K., Ångström, A. K., Andershed, A. K., Källström, Å., Fanti, K. A., & Andershed, H. (2022). Stability and change in early social skills development in relation to early school performance: A longitudinal study of a Swedish cohort. Early Education and Development, 33(1), 17-37. Go to original source...
    13. Getchell, K. (2022). Spotlight on a thought leader in business communication: Joanne Yates-business communications' own standard-bearer. International Journal of Business Communication, 59(4), 669-672. Go to original source...
    14. Ghamri, A., & Zedan, H. S. (2024). Innovation and Thought Leadership by Women in Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Saudi Journal of Health Systems Research, 4(1), 15-27. Go to original source...
    15. Goleman, D. (1998). Working with emotional intelligence.New Your: Bantam.
    16. Goni, J. I. C., & Van Looy, A. (2022). Process innovation capability in less-structured business processes: a systematic literature review. Business Process Management Journal, 28(3), 557-584. Go to original source...
    17. Herndon, K. L., & Kor-Sins, R. (2019). Developing thought leaders: An industry practicum approach. Journal of Leadership Education, 18(1), 174-182. Go to original source...
    18. Hundie, Z. A., & Habtewold, E. M. (2024). The effect of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles on employees' level of performance: The Case of Hospital in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 16, 67-82. https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S450077 Go to original source...
    19. Kittikunchotiwut, P. (2020). Transformational leadership and financial performance: The mediating roles of learning orientation and firm innovativeness. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(10), 769-781. Go to original source...
    20. Kaufman, S., & Boxshall, A. (2023). Eleven enablers of science thought leadership facilitate knowledge exchange in environmental regulation. Environmental Science & Policy, 147, 336-348. Go to original source...
    21. Khuan, H., Rohim, M., Rukmana, A. Y., Kurniawan, R., & Suprianus Pian TA. (2023). The role of technology start-ups in driving economic growth post-pandemic. West Science Journal Economic and Entrepreneurship, 1(08), 329-337. https://doi.org/10.58812/wsjee.v1i03.150 Go to original source...
    22. Kock, N. (2020). Harman's single factor test in PLS-SEM: Checking for common method bias. Data Analysis Perspectives Journal, 2(2), 1-6.
    23. Kumari, K., Ali, S. B., & Abbas, J. (2021). Examining the role of motivation and reward in employees' job performance through mediating effect of job satisfaction: An empirical evidence. International Journal of Organisational Leadership, 10(4). Go to original source...
    24. Kyei-Frimpong, M., Nyarko Adu, I., Suleman, A. R., & and Owusu Boakye, K. (2022). In search of performance-oriented leadership behaviours in the Ghanaian financial service sector: The role of knowledge sharing. Journal of Work-Applied Management, 14(2). 272-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWAM-01-2022-0001 Go to original source...
    25. Lee, D. S., & Park, S. (2021). Civil servants' perceptions of agency heads' leadership styles: the role of gender in public sector organisations. Public Management Review, 23(8), 1160-1183. Go to original source...
    26. Lee, C. C., Yeh, W. C., Yu, Z., & Lin, X. C. (2023). The relationships between leader emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and transactional leadership and job performance: A mediator model of trust. Heliyon, 9(8). Go to original source...
    27. Malik, A., Khan, N., Faisal, S., Javed, S., & Faridi, M. R. (2020). An investigation of leadership styles for the business productivity and sustainability of small medium enterprises (). International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 24(5), 1-10.
    28. Ma'arof, R. A., Rashid, U. K., & Nasuredin, J. (2024). A conceptual framework on factors influencing nurses' job performance. Information Management and Business Review, 16(1 (I)), 173-181. Go to original source...
    29. Meyer, L. M., & Maluchnik, M. S. (2023). Theorising thought leadership for OD scholar-practitioners. Organisation Development Review, 55(3).
    30. Nguyen, M., Sharma, P., & Malik, A. (2024). Leadership styles and employee creativity: the interactive impact of online knowledge sharing and organizational innovation. Journal of Knowledge Management. 28(3), 631-650. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-01-2023-0014 Go to original source...
    31. Oruh, E. S., Mordi, C., Dibia, C. H., & Ajonbadi, H.A. (2021). Exploring compassionate managerial leadership style in reducing employee stress level during COVID-19 crisis: the case of Nigeria. Employee Relations, 43( 6), 1362-1381. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-06-2020-0302 Go to original source...
    32. Oyewole, A. S. (2021). Leadership styles, financial competency, and survival of micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises in Lagos State, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 10(4). Go to original source...
    33. Prahl, A., Duffy, A., & Min, C. L. H. (2023). Commentary is free: Issue management and gaining capital with thought leadership. Public Relations Review, 49(1), 102277. Go to original source...
    34. Ramadhan, F. H., & Adriany, D. (2023). Increasing the effectiveness of persuasive communication through the use of emotional intelligence. In International Conference on Economic Business and Social Science. 1(1), 28-33.
    35. Rohlfer S, Hassi A, & Jebsen S.(2022). Management Innovation and Middle Managers: The Role of Empowering Leadership, Voice, and Collectivist Orientation. Management and Organization Review. 18(1):108-130. doi:10.1017/mor.2021.48 Go to original source...
    36. Riggio, R. E. (2024). Developing student leader emotional and social communication skills. Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship, 6(1), 68-73. Go to original source...
    37. Sanwal, T., & Sareen, P. (2023). Higher employee engagement through social intelligence: a perspective of Indian scenario. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 35(1), 111-126. Go to original source...
    38. Sueda, K. (2022). Japanese women managers' employee-oriented communication styles: An analysis using constructivist grounded theory. International Journal of Business Communication, 59(1), 22-47. Go to original source...
    39. Setiawan, R., Cavaliere, L. P. L., Navarro, E. R., Wisetsri, W., Jirayus, P., Chauhan, S., & Rajan, R. (2021). The impact of leadership styles on employee productivity in organisations: A comparative study of leadership styles. Productivity Management, 26(1), 382-404. Go to original source...
    40. Singh, R., Kumar, N., & Puri, S. (2017). Self-leadership strategies and sales performance should integrate selling skills and adaptive selling behaviour as missing links. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 32(5), 652-663. Go to original source...
    41. Smith, S. G., & Sinkford, J. C. (2022). Gender equality in the 21st century: Overcoming barriers to women's leadership in global health. Journal of Dental Education, 86(9), 1144-1173. Go to original source...
    42. Supramaniam, S., & Singaravelloo, K. (2021). Impact of emotional intelligence on organisational performance: An analysis of the Malaysian Public Administration. Administrative Sciences, 11(3), 76. Go to original source...
    43. Tabassum, R., Fida, F., Iqbal, S., Tahira, R., Toosy, M., Rehan, Q., & Riaz, S. (2024). Impact of social-skills on high school students' academic performance. Kurdish Studies, 12(5), 391-396.
    44. Tay, Y. H., & Aigbogun, O. (2024). Leadership styles and business performance: A study of service-based SMEs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Klang Valley, Malaysia. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 25(1), 50-68. Go to original source...
    45. Taylor, A., Hook, M., Carlson, J., Gudergan, S., & Falk, T. (2023). Appetite for distraction? Systematic literature review on customer smartphone distractions. International Journal of Information Management, 102722. Go to original source...
    46. Teunissen, R. A. G., Dierx, J. A., Venter, T., Young, C. T., & Titus, S. (2023). Managing international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary collaboration in health and well-being capacity building: lessons learned within the CASO higher education project. Studies in Higher Education, 48(1), 49-62. Go to original source...
    47. Turesky, M., & Warner, M. E. (2020). Gender dynamics in the planning workplace: The importance of women in management. Journal of the American Planning Association, 86(2), 157-170. Go to original source...
    48. Welbeck, D. N. O., Amponsah-Bediako, K., Dorhetso, S. N., Aazagreyir, P., & Yeboah, J. N. O. (2024). Impact of stress management on job performance: The mediating role of transformational leadership.
    49. Weidmann, B., & Deming, D. J. (2021). Team players: How social-skills improve team performance. Econometrica, 89(6), 2637-2657. Go to original source...
    50. Wiggill, M. N., & Van der Waldt, G. (2020). Incorporating cultural diversity, nation-building and social cohesion when teaching communication and relationship management. In Joy (Vol. 5, pp. 169-182). Emerald Publishing Limited. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content