Leadership Language as a Catalyst for Social Sustainability in the Healthcare Sector: A Grey-DEMATEL Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine and identify how leadership language and communication influence employee social sustainability and its various factors. To analyze the relationships between leadership language and communication factors and employee social sustainability, the study employed the Grey-DEMATEL approach. A purposive expert sampling method was used: 10 qualified practicing professionals were consulted to provide their insights and identify key factors. These same experts then reached a consensus on 16 critical factors of leadership language, communication, and employee social sustainability, selected from an initial pool of 37 factors. The Grey-DEMATEL method was further applied to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between leadership language and communication, and employee social sustainability. Additionally, the Motivational Language Theory highlights the significance of how leaders communicate in building trust, fostering competence, and enhancing job satisfaction within the healthcare sector. The results indicate that open, effective communication across all staff levels specifically through direction-giving language and managerial practices of active listening can strengthen healthcare staff’s connection to their work. Similarly, leaders’ use of empathetic, motivational, and sense-making language cultivates a supportive environment centered on teamwork, reduces stress, and improves healthcare employees’ job satisfaction, while also advancing their social sustainability.