The Emotional Labor of Care: Sustainability and Strain in Leading with Unconditional Positive Regard

Authors

Emily R. Mulvihill, Colorado State University - PuebloFollow

Abstract

Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR) is the capacity to honor the inherent worth of all persons, a practice increasingly applied to school leadership. While UPR fosters trust and dignity-based relationships, its sustained use within chronically under-resourced schools exacts a significant emotional toll. This study builds on prior research with Colorado school leaders who framed UPR as a “compass for relationships.” Using narrative inquiry with five leaders from the original cohort, this follow-up examined the emotional and psychological costs of leading with UPR. Findings revealed four themes: the weight of holding space, tensions between values and mandates, resilience through reflection, and boundary-setting as care. Leaders described compassion fatigue, moral dissonance, and burnout, but also identified reflective practices and boundary work as sustaining strategies. Implications highlight the need for leadership preparation, district supports, and policy frameworks that explicitly recognize and protect the emotional labor of humanizing leadership.

Recommended Citation

Mulvihill, Emily R. (2025) "The Emotional Labor of Care: Sustainability and Strain in Leading with Unconditional Positive Regard," Journal of Educational Leadership in Action: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62608/2164-1102.1193
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/ela/vol10/iss1/7

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