Paradoxical leadership as a catalyst for sustainability: the interplay of green knowledge sharing and mindfulness in hospitality workplaces
Hazem Ahmed Khairy, Wagih Salama, Mohamed Ahmed SulimanPurpose
This study explores the influence of paradoxical leadership on sustainable work behavior in Egypt's five-star hotel sector, highlighting the mediating role of green knowledge sharing and the moderating role of green mindfulness. Grounded in Social Learning Theory and supported by Mindfulness Theory, the study posits that paradoxical leaders—who balance competing demands such as control and flexibility—create an environment that fosters sustainability-oriented behaviors among hotel employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 393 hotel employees and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). PLS-SEM was employed using WarpPLS to analyze the hypothesized structural relationships. The study also tested the moderating role of mindfulness and the mediating role of green knowledge sharing in the proposed model.
Findings
The findings reveal that paradoxical leadership significantly enhances sustainable work behavior both directly and indirectly through green knowledge sharing. Furthermore, green mindfulness strengthens the positive effects of paradoxical leadership on both green knowledge sharing and sustainable work behavior.
Practical implications
These results underscore the importance of paradoxical leadership as a key driver of pro-environmental behavior in hospitality contexts, providing theoretical and managerial insights for promoting sustainability in service organizations.
Originality/value
This study is original in demonstrating how paradoxical leadership drives sustainable work behavior in Egypt's five-star hotels, uniquely highlighting green knowledge sharing as a mediator and green mindfulness as a moderator. By integrating Social Learning and Mindfulness theories, it advances understanding of the cognitive and affective mechanisms through which leaders promote employee pro-environmental behavior, offering practical guidance for sustainability-focused leadership in hospitality.