Digital leadership competencies and emotional intelligence for digital well-being: examining through PLS-SEM and NCA

Purpose This study aims to focus on understanding the digital leader competencies digital leadership competencies (DLC) and digital emotional intelligence (DEI) required to manage virtual employees’ digital well-being (DWB). It further explores employees’ digital emotional contagion (DEC) and emotional regulation (ER), examining their impact on DWB. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from employees working on a digital platform, and the conceptual model was empirically tested using a multi-method approach. PLS-SEM and necessary condition analysis (NCA), as combined techniques, provided us with a more robust understanding, as SEM identifies net effects, while NCA provides insight into necessary conditions. Findings Digital leader competencies (DLC) impacted DEC and DWB of employees. Digital emotional intelligence (DEI) mediated between leadership competencies (DLC) and digital well-being (DWB), and emotional regulation (ER) mediated between digital emotional contagion (DEC) and DWB. Originality/value The paper contributes by proposing a unique empirical model for DWB and introducing the digital emotional intelligence (DEI) concept along with the DLC of leaders. It also examines employees’ emotional contagion and emotional regulation and how they affect their DWB. It uses emotional intelligence theory as a foundation to understand how leaders’ competencies and emotional intelligence can influence the digital well-being of followers in a digital environment.