Exploring the Concept of Sustainable Leadership: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to systematically explore, conceptualize, and explain sustainable leadership and identify its dimensions, components, and consequences through a research synthesis approach. This qualitative study was conducted using a meta-synthesis approach. The research population consisted of Persian and English studies related to sustainable leadership published over the last twenty years. A systematic search was carried out in national and international scientific databases using relevant keywords. Studies were selected through purposive sampling based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 13 high-quality studies were analyzed using Sandelowski and Barroso’s seven-step synthesis framework and Strauss and Corbin’s three-stage coding process, including open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA software. The credibility of findings was ensured through CASP quality assessment and inter-coder agreement procedures. The findings resulted in the identification of 133 open codes, 17 subcategories, and 5 main categories, including factors influencing sustainable leadership formation, characteristics of sustainable leaders, the process of sustainable leadership realization, challenges and barriers, and outcomes and consequences. Results indicated that sustainable leadership is shaped by organizational, individual, and contextual factors. Sustainable leaders were found to require competencies such as strategic thinking, cultural intelligence, ethical responsibility, conflict management, and intercultural communication skills. Moreover, the realization of sustainable leadership depends on participatory approaches, social responsibility, strategic orientation, and sustainability-based management. At the outcome level, sustainable leadership contributes to higher job satisfaction, organizational commitment, sustainable performance, improved organizational collaboration, and stronger social and environmental responsibility. Sustainable leadership is a multidimensional, ethical, and future-oriented phenomenon that integrates economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions to facilitate organizational and societal transformation. The findings suggest that developing this leadership style in universities and organizations requires revising managerial structures, strengthening participatory cultures, and training leaders equipped with intercultural competencies and systems thinking abilities.