Spirituality As A Determinant Of Transformational Leadership: Moderating Effects Of Religious Orientation

Abstract

This study empirically tests the relationship between spirituality, transactional leadership, and transformational leadership. Spirituality is conceptualized as an attitude or basic human need. Consistent with transformational leadership theory (Bass, 1985), it measures transformational and transactional leadership behaviors. As the study of spirituality in the workplace is still emerging (Giacalone and Jurkiewicz, 2003; Giacalone, Jurkiewicz, and Fry, 2005; Paloutzian and Park, 2005a) and the scientific study of the psychology of religion is a well established discipline (Allport and Ross, 1967; Gorsuch and McPherson, 1989; Hood, Spilka, Hunsberger, and Gorsuch, 1996; Paloutzian and Park, 2005b), it integrates a mature measure of religious orientation into a model to give support to the relationship between spirituality and leadership style. Results from a sample of 186 senior executives from industry and academia indicate that religious orientation strengthens the relationship between spirituality and transformational leader behaviors. Results also support the moderating role of religious orientation in the relationship between transactional leadership and transformational leader behaviors. The paper concludes with future research directions and managerial implications.

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