Authentic Leadership and Job Engagement: Trust as a Mediating Variable (Case Study: Salehin Spiritual Circles)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Masters degree, Depatment of Executive Management, strategic orientation, Payam Noor University, Sari, Iran.
10.22034/jmek.2024.468271.1142
Abstract
This research aims to investigate the impact of authentic leadership on job engagement within the Salehin's Good Tree circles, with trust acting as a mediating variable. In terms of purpose, this is an applied study, and regarding data collection, it is a descriptive-survey research. The statistical population comprises the group leaders of the Salehin circles in Sari, who evaluate their trainers as leaders. Using Cochran's formula, a sample size of 273 was determined. Ultimately, 278 valid questionnaires were collected through stratified random sampling. Data collection instruments included standard questionnaires for authentic leadership, job engagement, and interpersonal trust. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing Cronbach's alpha for reliability, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that authentic leadership has a significant positive impact on both job engagement and trust. Furthermore, trust significantly and positively affects job engagement, playing a mediating role between authentic leadership and job engagement. The results suggest that to enhance the qualitative level of these circles, organizations must utilize managers who possess the capability to build trust among lower ranks and can increase engagement through a calculated, educational perspective. Organizations should foster the belief among group leaders that they are valued as the organization's main assets. Consequently, job engagement manifests as a genuine concern for the growth of trainees, a sense of responsibility regarding the preservation of values, and an increased desire for continuous presence in the circles.
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  • Receive Date 09 April 2024
  • Revise Date 14 June 2024
  • Accept Date 24 August 2024