ABSTRACT The role of spiritual leadership for organizations is studied mainly in the context of permanent organizations, and little is known with regard to the role of spiritual leadership in temporary project environments. This study examines how spiritual leadership influences project success. It proposes knowledge sharing (attitudes and behaviors) and organizational innovation as key mediating mechanisms between the spiritual leadership and project success relationship. We draw on two independent studies conducted within the telecommunication sector. Study 1 uses data from 129 respondents and Study 2 from 180 respondents. Both studies involve project team leaders and members with project experience. Using structural equation modeling, Study 1 tests the mediating role of knowledge sharing, while Study 2 examines organizational innovation as a mediator between spiritual leadership and project success. Results from both studies demonstrate that spiritual leadership positively influences project success through knowledge sharing and organizational innovation, confirming their mediating effects in temporary project environments. Theoretically, the study extends RBV by conceptualizing spiritual leadership as an intangible organizational resource that fosters trust, collaboration, and innovation, which are key drivers of project performance. It further enriches SET by showing how spiritually grounded leadership cultivates reciprocal relationships that enhance collective learning and creativity. Practically, the findings suggest that organizations should integrate spirituality into leadership development to nurture purpose‐driven, innovative, and knowledge‐sharing cultures that improve project outcomes and long‐term competitiveness. This research advances the literature by being among the few to empirically test the role of spiritual leadership in temporary project settings, uncovering the underlying mechanisms through which it shapes project success. By examining knowledge sharing and organizational innovation as mediators across two independent studies, the paper provides a novel, theory‐driven explanation of how spiritual leadership translates into superior performance in dynamic, time‐bound environments.
Raziq et al. (Sun,) studied this question.