The effect of servant leadership on organisational sustainability: the parallel mediation role of creativity and psychological resilience

Abstract

Purpose

The main concern of this research is to examine the indirect effects servant leadership on organisational sustainability (OS) through creativity and psychological resilience in the hoteling sector in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method based on a questionnaire was employed to gather data from 441 employees working in the hotel industry in Malaysia. The partial least squares technique, SmartPLS3.3.7, was employed to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

The result of the study found support for effect of servant leadership on creativity and psychological resilience. In addition, the effect of creativity and psychological resilience on OS was supported. Moreover, the mediation role of creativity and psychological resilience between servant leadership and organisational suitability was also supported by data.

Originality/value

This is a pioneering study that has combined human capital elements (i.e. servant leadership, creativity and psychological resilience) to examine their impacts on OS. Besides, this work has established comparatively new relationships, i.e. the impact of servant leadership on OS through the mediating role of creativity and psychological resilience. In addition, this study has developed relatively new link between psychological resilience and OS. In addition, it has confirmed the validity and reliability of servant leadership and OS at first and second orders.

Citation

Batool, F., Mohammad, J. and Awang, S.R. (2022), "The effect of servant leadership on organisational sustainability: the parallel mediation role of creativity and psychological resilience", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 43 No. 1, pp. 71-95. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-06-2021-0264