Spiritual intelligence influences and augments employee engagement amidst the crisis

Ensuring the safety and engagement of employees has remained a top priority for employers throughout the crisis situation like that of COVID-19 pandemic. Transformational leaders have demonstrated optimism and efficiency in navigating crises, rebuilding confidence, supporting the workforce, and progressing amidst uncertainty. These leaders recognize the diverse needs of internal and external stakeholders, understanding that these needs can vary on a case-by-case basis. Short-term decisions have been made to sustain operations while adhering to physical distancing measures and to provide economic and socioemotional support to employees.Research revealed that employees who were working remotely experienced a heightened sense of well-being, displayed more positive effects, and demonstrated increased engagement. The job crafting theory presents valuable perspectives on how employees can effectively navigate crisis situations by actively reshaping their job roles and empowers them to maintain engagement, resilience, and effectiveness amidst uncertainty and change. Spiritual intelligence (SI) has enabled employees to approach challenges with a focus on meaning and value. It has allowed individuals to perceive the COVID-19 crisis differently and to adapt to their circumstances. SI empowers employees to be creative, draw upon their observations, respond with compassion, and adapt their beliefs. Survey results and correlation analyses have indicated a positive relationship between leaders' efforts to engage employees and the enthusiasm of engaged employees for the organization's future. These findings highlight the influential role of leaders in shaping employee engagement (EE), as well as the connection between EE and employee SI.