PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how the spiritual leadership (SL) of the leader is perceived by workers in the public health sector in the Assiut region of Egypt. In other words, this study investigates the work-related workplace spirituality (WPS) of public health workers in this context.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted among a sample of 333 employees working in the public health sector in Assiut.FindingsThe empirical results indicate that the SL of the leader (especially altruism and vision), as evaluated by employees, positively influence work-related WPS. The results confirm that strengthening SL is a promising pathway to improve WPS, which may ultimately have some benefits, such as helping to improve individual and institutional performance in the public health sector.Originality/valueThe authors hope that the theoretical insights gained through the findings of this study will encourage researchers to explore how and when to enhance SL and WPS for employees.

This study explores whether, and how, mindfulness mediates the relationship between spiritual leadership and human engineering. Based on data from a sample of 335 members of faculty and administrative staff from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Saudi Arabia, the paper provides insights into how mindfulness affects the relationship between spiritual leadership and human engineering. The authors believe that it is the first time that mindfulness as a mediator in this relationship has been studied. They also believe that it is the first time such a study has been conducted in an Arab environment. By studying the relationship between spiritual leadership and human engineering, and by studying mindfulness as a mediating variable in this relationship in a non-Western environment, the study expands the external validity of the notions of spiritual leadership and human engineering. The results indicate a significant relationship between spiritual leadership and human engineering, and show that mindfulness has an indirect effect on this relationship. The article highlights the implications for dealing with stress in the work environment by using mindfulness as a driver for developing spiritual leadership, as well as understanding and practicing the values of spiritual leadership in promoting spirituality.