The influence of servant leadership attributes in spirituality on perceived career success among Muslim managers in Malaysia

Abstract

The concept of traditional career success is based on the Western approach where a little or no relationship exists with religion. An extensive review of career success, and relevant portions of the Holy Qur’an (62:10; 65:2-3), and Hadith (An-Nawawi: 35) suggest that career success from the Islamic perspective are distinct, although they appear related. As Muslims strongly attach relationship between the life in this world and the Hereafter. The career success for Muslims relies heavily on their level of spirituality from the Islamic perspective and services to humanity, in addition to the conventional concept of career success. But the level of influence of spirituality and servant leadership attributes compared to money and position is not known. As a result, for sustainable management of an organisation the influence of these hidden factors (spirituality and servant leadership attributes) are to be identified to enable the organisation to create avenue for its employees’ career success. However, no comprehensive research has been reported that addresses the effects of servant leadership attributes and spirituality towards employee career success. Dimensions and factors of servant leadership attributes and spirituality from the Islamic perspective that played an important role on career success have not been identified. As such, a comprehensive model of career success with the effect of servant leadership attributes and spirituality from the Islamic perspective to explain Muslims’ views of career success is developed based on spillover theory. The main objective of this research was to study the mediating effect of the servant leadership attributes on career success of Muslim managers in Malaysia, and to develop a career success model. Cross sectional study was conducted involving a total of 401 managers (172 males and 229 females). The Muslim managers who participated in this study came from five prominent sectors such as education (IIUM & USIM), financial (BIMB, & BMMB), health (KPJ & PUSRAWI), public enforcement (JAKIM & IKIM) and private companies (Tabung Haji). The descriptive data were analysed using statistical method AMOS 21.0. This analysis shows that Muslim managers in Malaysia viewed that career success is positively related to workplace spirituality and servant leadership attributes. However, the Muslim managers viewed that individual spirituality from the Islamic perspective and career success are positively connected with the mediating effect of servant leadership attributes. Most of the Muslim managers perceived individual spirituality from the Islamic perspective and career success in isolation. But these two are found to be integrated if practised through servant leadership attributes to realize or grasp the total phenomena in more concrete or obvious manner. Furthermore, this study showed that high level of perseverance on servant leadership attributes positively influence Malaysian Muslim manager’s career success. In conclusions, this research established a theoretical framework where workplace spirituality, individual spirituality based on Islamic perspective and impact on career success are shown via the mediating factor (servant leadership attributes) where perseverance acts as a moderator to intensify the strength of relationship. The findings of this study contribute to the theoretical knowledge by the development of new model, and hence, reducing the knowledge gap. The practical implication of this study goes to both an organisation and employee. The developed model also serves as guidelines for policymakers and top management to develop organisational policy that suits the career success from the Islamic perspective especially for the Muslim society around the world.