Empirical insights into harnessing symmetrical communication and scouting prowess through spiritual leadership

Purpose In today’s fast-paced business landscape, fostering proactive employee behaviors such as scouting is essential for igniting innovation and securing a competitive edge. This study aims to explore the transformative potential of symmetrical communication in amplifying the impact of spiritual leadership (SL) on employee scouting behavior. Design/methodology/approach A total of 316 responses were collected from healthcare professionals in different regions of South India, using a simple random sampling method. The data were analysed using multiple regression and mediation analysis to investigate the direct and indirect effects within the proposed framework. Findings The findings reveal that symmetrical communication acts as a catalyst, leveraging the effects of SL by fostering an environment in which open dialogue and mutual understanding empower employees to seek and capitalise on new opportunities proactively. Originality/value This research enriches the healthcare management literature by accentuating the crucial role of organizational communication in magnifying the impact of SL on employee behaviors. Furthermore, it asserts the need for organizations to integrate SL with effective communication strategies to cultivate proactive behaviors.