Psychological Well-being in Multicultural Teams

Abstract

For years researchers have been heavily investigating the topics of well-being and improvement of quality of life. It was speculated that the level of psychological well-being of employees directly affects their engagement in work as well as productivity and overall satisfaction with the job and life in general (Harter et al., 2002). This correlation was crucial for leaders and the way they distribute their resources to pursue business growth. To be prosperous and productive, the dedicated focus had to shift to the management style and employees’ feeling of well-being. The objective of this research paper was to point out the ways managers can improve psychological well-being within a multicultural team. The results and recommendations were based on an up-to-date literature review and empirical research. The literature review pointed out key factors related to psychological well-being in teams relating to stress, fear, and the influence of positive leadership on psychological safety in a multicultural team. Two interviews were conducted during this research involving the expert in human resource management in multicultural teams and the expert on psychological climate in teams, to help identify features of psychological well-being and to help identify methods that can contribute to its improvement. The results achieved: interpersonal trust, psychological safety, and management style have much influence on psychological well-being in multicultural teams. Methods including clear communication channels among all members of a team, conducting different training programs, and creating a supportive and trust-filled environment were developed and proposed as the means that can improve psychological well-being in international teams. The major goal of the thesis was to provide practical recommendations and solutions for improving psychological well-being in multicultural teams. This research is important since the psychological well-being of employees acts as a crucial factor for team performance and achieving common goals. The paper offers certain specific methods and approaches that can be applied by leaders and managers in order to create a supportive and psychologically healthy environment in multicultural teams.