Jyoti Prakash Mishra1, Dr. Saamta Jain2
1Research Scholar, School of Commerce and Management, ISBM University Chhattisgarh
Email: jpmishra.isbm@atomicmail.io
2Assistant Professor, School of Commerce and Management, ISBM University Chhattisgarh
This study examines the challenge of bio-security faced by the Indian poultry healthcare sector due to animal-borne threats and changing rules. It looks at how visionary leadership and employee psychological capital (PsyCap) can help organizations survive. Through examining industry data, the research finds that when leaders offer a clear vision, it helps protect their employees from the psychological stress caused by industry problems. The results suggest that when healthcare workers have higher levels of hope, self-belief, resilience, and optimism, they are more likely to follow bio-security rules. This paper adds to the research on organizational behavior by showing that PsyCap is a key factor in turning leadership ideas into real- world stability. This indicates the need for leadership programs that focus on the specific challenges within the Indian agri-business environment.
1. Introduction
In India, poultry healthcare is very important for food and jobs in the countryside. But the sector faces problems like bird flu and antibiotic resistance. Technical fixes aren’t enough; people are the main defense.
Transformative leadership, with its focus on vision and intellect, is key to handling these issues (Bass Riggio, 2006). Leaders who paint a clear picture of the future help build their team’s Psychological Capital (PsyCap). PsyCap, which includes hope, confidence, toughness, and a positive attitude, helps staff handle the stress of disease outbreaks without getting burned out (Luthans et al., 2007). Even though it matters, there isn’t much research connecting these ideas in Indian poultry healthcare. This study looks at
how visionary leadership affects the PsyCap of healthcare workers and how this teamwork boosts strength in the organization. It gives stakeholders a guide to build a stronger human bio-shield through better leadership strategies.
2. Review of Literature
Transformational leadership is important for encouraging innovation and dedication when organizations face crises (Avolio & Yammarino, 2013). In farming and animal care, leaders must often balance business goals with public health needs. Because of this strain, Visionary Influence is needed to align the different goals of those involved (Nuthall, 2021).
Biosecurity volatility refers to unpredictable changes in how common diseases are, and the resulting regulatory or economic disturbances (Umali-Deininger et al., 2023). Research shows that this instability often causes compliance fatigue among workers. Here, strict hygiene practices become less important than speed.
Employee Psychological Capital (PsyCap) is a helpful predictor of job performance and mental well-being (Luthans & Youssef-Morgan, 2017). Recent research in India has revealed that PsyCap can affect the connection between supportive leadership and proactive behavior in employees (Srivastava et al., 2022). Still, we don’t know how leaders activate these psychological resources when facing biological and high- risk situations. Current models usually don’t consider the special pressures of the poultry healthcare industry. Things like mass slaughter or fast zoonotic spread call for a special type of toughness (Rani & Gupta, 2021). This study addresses this gap by looking at how these factors interact within India’s socio- economic structure.
3. Study Methodology
This study adopts a mixed-methods research design to capture both the depth of leadership experiences and the breadth of psychological impact.
• Quantitative Phase: A structured survey was administered to 240 professionals across 15 poultry healthcare firms in India, including veterinarians, laboratory technicians, and field consultants. The survey utilized the PCQ-24 scale for PsyCap and the MLQ-5X for transformational leadership.
• Qualitative Phase: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 senior executives to understand leadership strategies during recent bio-security crises.
• Sampling: A purposive sampling technique ensured representation from various geographic clusters (e.g., Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana).
• Ethical Considerations: All participants provided informed consent, and data anonymization was strictly maintained to protect organizational reputations.
4. Findings
The data analysis reveals a strong positive correlation (r = 0.68, p < 0.01) between a leader’s
visionary influence and the overall PsyCap of the employees.
Key Findings Include:
1. Resilience as a Core Factor: Among the four dimensions of PsyCap, “Resilience” showed the highest variance explanation during periods of active bio-security alerts
2. Vision vs. Anxiety: Employees who perceived their leaders as “highly visionary” reported 40%
lower levels of task-related anxiety compared to those under transactional management.
3. Bio-Security Compliance: Firms with high aggregate PsyCap scores showed 25% fewer protocol deviations in bio-security audits.
4. Cultural Nuance: In the Indian context, “Individualized Consideration” from leaders was found to be a prerequisite for “Visionary Influence” to take effect, suggesting a paternalistic element in successful leadership.
| Variables | Mean | SD | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1. Visionary Influence | 4.12 | 0.65 | (0.88) | ||
| 2. Psychological Capital (PsyCap) | 3.85 | 0.72 | 0.54** | (0.91) | |
| 3. Bio-security Compliance | 4.25 | 0.58 | 0.42** | 0.61** | (0.85) |
| *(Note: Alpha coefficients are in parentheses; *p < 0.01) |
The analysis confirms that while Visionary Influence has a direct impact on Bio-security Compliance (β =
0.32), the introduction of PsyCap as a mediator significantly strengthens the model. The indirect effect is statistically significant, suggesting that leaders do not just “force” compliance; they build the “inner resources” of employees (Hope and Efficacy), which naturally leads to more disciplined bio-security behaviors in the poultry sheds.
5. Result and Discussion
The results show that transformational leadership serves as a catalyst for psychological strength. In the poultry healthcare field, where the work is naturally unstable, a leader’s skill at presenting bio-security as a mission, instead of just a rule, greatly improves employee efficacy.
When comparing these results with Luthans et al. (2007), it is clear that while psychological capital is usually stable, leadership intervention can easily develop it. This opposes the common idea in agri- management that technical training is the only method for improving bio-security compliance. Our results suggest that a worker’s belief in their ability to handle a crisis is just as vital as the personal protective equipment they wear. The blend of leadership vision and employee optimism creates a strong environment that can withstand the shocks of sudden market closures or disease outbreaks.
6. Conclusion
This study finds that visionary leadership is key to the psychological capital of employees in India’s poultry healthcare sector. Clear direction from leaders during bio-security changes helps workers maintain performance when stressed.
Recommendations:
• Leadership Training: Companies should change their training to include communication skills for managers, not just technical skills.
• PsyCap Monitoring: HR should regularly check employee psychological health as part of their audits. • Future Research: Later studies could examine how digital leadership impacts the field as remote monitoring and tele-veterinary services become more common.