Spiritual leadership and intellectual capital: mediating role of psychological safety and knowledge sharing

PurposeThis study determines the nexus between spiritual leadership and psychological safety (PS). The authors explore the mediating role of PS and knowledge sharing to offer insights on how spiritual leadership can be advanced to better understand and support intellectual capital.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using convenience sampling from the Pakistani automobile manufacturing industry. SPSS statistical software was used for descriptive analysis and hypotheses were tested by using the partial least square-structural equation modeling method.FindingsThe results demonstrate that spiritual leadership has a significant positive impact on PS; PS has a positive impact on knowledge sharing (KS) and KS has a positive impact on intellectual capital. Furthermore, PS mediates between spiritual leadership and KS. KS mediates between PS and human, social and organizational capital. Spiritual leadership also affects outside the boundaries of the organization and builds strong social relations with suppliers, buyers, etc.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides a deeper understanding of spiritual leadership in the context of KS and intellectual capital in the automobile sector of Pakistan.Practical implicationsThis study encourages managers to nurture a philosophy of altruistic love that exerts a positive influence on employees. It will enrich their experience and promote a culture of KS.Social implicationsThis study has social implications for organizations seeking to situate their inclusive goals in society. The findings of this study can help promote harmony as employees who feel psychologically safe are more willing to spread it in society.Originality/valueThis study theoretically contributes the big picture that how spiritual leadership contributes to intellectual capital and adds to the literature on the topic.