Paradox mindset for individual well-being & societal impact

Leaders of social purpose organizations (SPOs) oftentimes struggle with tensions that unfold between their own well-being and societal well-doing, as well-being is often sacrificed for the social purpose. Assuming that a paradox mindset, i.e. the individuals ability to leverage tensions into benefits, can enhance the well-being of leaders and their employees, the PM4IWSI project asks the overarching research question: How can leaders in SPOs develop and sustain a paradox mindset, and (how) does it influence their own and their employees well-being? We take a multi-method, multi-wave approach, conducting three interlinked studies that combine quantitative (survey, experiment) with qualitative (diaries, interviews) methods. PM4IWSI builds theoretical insight for SPO leadership and paradox literatures by studying a paradox mindsets impact on well-being, and the paradox mindset development. As an inter- disciplinary, pan-European team of PIs from management studies and psychology, supported by networks of European SPO leaders and top international scholars, we aim at comparative studies and outcomes as well as impacts and interventions that enhance well-being in SPOs, which also impacts the often vulnerable groups they work with. The project cuts across Themes 1, 2 and 3 of the call, as the paradox mindset (1) enables better crises handling, (2) improves the social environment (esp. workplaces), and (3) helps to re-conceptualize well-being as a mental health asset.