TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE: FACING THE CHALLENGES OF DEHUMANIZATION IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Abstract
This article analyzes the convergence between Transformational Leadership (TL) and Spiritual Intelligence (SI) as strategic vectors for addressing the challenges of dehumanization in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The main objective is to investigate how the integration of these constructs mitigates the evolutionary mismatch and empathic regression resulting from technological mediation and the shortage of human social cues within organizations. Methodologically, the study is configured as a narrative literature review (2000–2026), grounded in high-impact databases such as Oxford Academic, Nature, Science, PubMed and SciELO. The discussion correlates the pillars of TL with conceptual dimensions of SI, using the SISRI-24 as a theoretical reference for organizing these dimensions. The literature analysis suggests that leadership associated with meaning-making, ethical awareness, and recognition of human singularity may contribute to addressing dehumanization effects in organizational contexts mediated by AI. It is concluded that the articulation between TL and SI constitutes a relevant analytical framework for understanding mental health and corporate sustainability in a context of uncertainty regarding the meaning and value of human work.
Author Biographies
Master’s degree in Neuroscience Applied to Business – FCU/USA; specialist in Neuroscience and Behavior – PUCRS, Negotiation – FGV, Business Management – FGV, and Business Strategy – ULBRA. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – ULBRA; Neurometry – SBN, with extension studies in Computerized Neurophysiology. Researches Neurocommunication, leadership, and human interactions in professional contexts. Author of articles and of the books O Poder da Inteligência Comunicacional and Inteligência NeuroComunicacional™ na Prática.
Consultant, speaker, and mentor in Health and Neuroscience Applied to Business. PhD in Stomatology – PUCRS; Master’s degree in Oral Pathology – UFRGS; specialist in Leadership, Management, and Results; MBA in Neuromarketing and Consumer Insights – HSM University.
References
ABEYATUNGE, W. G. N. N. The impact of spiritual intelligence on innovative work behaviour: a mediator, moderator model of organizational culture and psychological empowerment in selected banks in Colombo District in Sri Lanka. Brazilian Journal of Development, Curitiba, v. 10, n. 7, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv10n7-061
ABOLNASSER, M. S. A. et al. Transformational Leadership, Employee Engagement, Job Satisfaction, and Psychological Well-Being among Hotel Employees after the Height of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Serial Mediation Model. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Basel, v. 20, n. 4, 3609, 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043609
AMRAM, Y.; DRYER, C. The Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale (ISIS): development and preliminary validation. In: ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, 116., 2008, Boston. Proceedings [...] Boston, 2008.
BAI, Y. et al. The role of self-efficacy and psychological capital in the relationship between transformational leadership and employees’ career growth. Frontiers in Psychology, Lausanne, v. 16, e1624245, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1624245
BASS, B. M. Transformational leadership: industrial, military and educational impact. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1998.
BOYD, R. L.; MARKOWITZ, D. M. Artificial intelligence and the psychology of human connection. Perspectives on Psychological Science, Thousand Oaks, v. 21, n. 2, p. 192-220, 2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916251404394
BREEVAART, K. et al. Transformational leadership and employee engagement: the mediating role of psychological empowerment and moderating role of structural distance. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Washington, DC, v. 20, n. 2, p. 146-157, 2015.
CHAWLA, V.; GUDA, S. Individual spirituality at work and its relationship with job satisfaction, propensity to leave and job commitment: an exploratory study among sales professionals. Journal of Human Values, Thousand Oaks, v. 16, n. 2, p. 157-167, 2010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/097168581001600203
CHEN, N.; ZHANG, X. When misunderstanding meets artificial intelligence: the critical role of trust in human-AI and human-human team communication and performance. Frontiers in Psychology, Lausanne, v. 16, e1637339, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1637339
FIDELIS, A. C. F.; FORMIGA, N. S.; FERNANDES, A. J. A inteligência espiritual e reajuste do trabalho em brasileiros e portugueses de unidades hospitalares. RECIMA21, São Paulo, v. 3, n. 4, e341382, 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47820/recima21.v3i4.1382
FIDELIS, A.; MOREIRA, A. C.; VITÓRIA, A. Multiple perspectives of spiritual intelligence: a systematic literature review. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, Amsterdam, v. 9, 100879, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.100879
GARCÍA-MORALES, V. J. et al. The role of transformational leadership in enhancing organizational innovation. Journal of Business Research, Amsterdam, v. 65, n. 7, p. 1040-1050, 2012.
GOLEMAN, D. Liderança: a força da inteligência emocional. Rio de Janeiro: Objetiva, 2020.
HACKER, S. K.; WASHINGTON, M. Spiritual intelligence: going beyond IQ and EQ to develop resilient leaders. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, Hoboken, v. 36, n. 3, p. 21-28, 2017.
HAGEMANN, M. A new supplement to spiritual leadership from spiritual intelligence conceptions and etymologic research. International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning, Koper, v. 11, n. 1, p. 9-15, 2022.
HARMS, P. D. et al. Leadership and emotional intelligence: a synthesis of two decades of research. The Leadership Quarterly, Amsterdam, v. 28, n. 1, p. 120-135, 2018.
KELLOWAY, E. K. et al. Transformational leadership and employee well-being: the mediating role of trust in the leader and self-efficacy. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Washington, DC, v. 17, n. 1, p. 39-55, 2012.
KING, D. B.; DeCICCO, T. L. A viable model and self-report measure of spiritual intelligence. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, v. 28, n. 1, p. 68-85, 2009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24972/IJTS.2009.28.1.68
KING, D. B.; MARA, C. A.; DECICCO, T. L. Connecting the spiritual and emotional intelligences: confirming an intelligence criterion and assessing the role of empathy. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, Palo Alto, v. 31, n. 1, p. 4-15, 2012.
KUMAR, S.; BAGGA, S. K. Relação da liderança transformacional e do suporte organizacional percebido com o comprometimento organizacional: o papel mediador do engajamento dos funcionários. Brazilian Business Review, Vitória, v. 21, n. 2, e20221196, 2024.
LARSON, E. J. The myth of artificial intelligence: why computers can’t think the way we do. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press/Harvard University Press, 2021.
LIU, Y. et al. Transformational leadership and employee engagement: the roles of psychological capital and sleep. Journal of Business and Psychology, New York, v. 34, p. 257-272, 2019.
MENG, Q. et al. Effects of employee-artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration on counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs): leader emotional support as a moderator. Behavioral Sciences, Basel, v. 15, n. 5, 696, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050696
OLIVEIRA JORGE, D. F. et al. Inteligência espiritual: validação preliminar da versão portuguesa da Escala de Inteligência Espiritual Integrada (EIEI). Análise Psicológica, Lisboa, v. 34, n. 3, p. 325-337, 2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14417/ap.982
PINTO, C. T. et al. Spiritual intelligence: a scoping review on the gateway to mental health. Global Health Action, London, v. 17, n. 1, 2362310, 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2362310
PURCELL, Z. A. et al. Writing with AI boosts trust-building efficiency. iScience, Cambridge, v. 28, n. 12, 114092, 2025.
SARACINI, C.; CORNEJO-PLAZA, M. I.; CIPPITANI, R. Techno-emotional projection in human-GenAI relationships: a psychological and ethical conceptual perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, Lausanne, v. 16, e1662206, 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1662206
SCHWAB, K. A quarta revolução industrial. São Paulo: Edipro, 2016.
SMITH, A.; ROBERTS, B. The role of peer support in the development of resilience and job satisfaction. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, Washington, DC, v. 26, n. 1, p. 42-55, 2021.
TURKLE, S. Reclaiming conversation: the power of talk in a digital age. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.
UNGVÁRI-ZRÍNYI, I. Spirituality as motivation and perspective for a socially responsible entrepreneurship. World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Geneva, v. 10, n. 1, p. 4-15, 2014.
WANG, J.; WANG, Z.; ALAM, M.; MURAD, M.; GUL, F.; GILL, S. A. The impact of transformational leadership on affective organizational commitment and job performance: the mediating role of employee engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, Lausanne, v. 13, e831060, 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.831060
WIGGLESWORTH, C. As 21 habilidades da inteligência espiritual. São Paulo: Pensamento-Cultrix, 2023.
ZOHAR, D.; MARSHALL, I. QS inteligência espiritual. São Paulo: Record, 2000.
