Abstract:

In organizational behavior literature, the concepts of leader and leadership are significant areas of study. The successful implementation of institutional sustainability in universities is possible with leaders who possess the qualities and characteristics necessary to manage this process. This brings forth the concept of sustainable leadership. Sustainable leadership has become increasingly important for all types of organizations, large and small, due to the recent fragile developments in the world. There is a need for future-oriented leaders who can manage the process of sustainable development and institutional sustainability, have an awareness and sensitivity towards sustainability, act with strategic awareness, understand and predict complexity, and think about and solve complex problems. In this context, sustainable leadership, which has emerged to address sustainability-related issues, can be considered a new and effective leadership style. Effective leaders are needed to create successful change towards sustainability in societies and businesses, provide a vision, and set a direction. Therefore, expanding the quantitative studies on sustainable leadership will be beneficial for both researchers and institutions.

A sustainable leader encompasses leadership qualities that have a particular vision for sustainability and related values within an organization. Sustainable leaders are individuals who manage the harmony between economic, social, and environmental relationships. Thus, they can be defined as visionaries whose primary goal is the transfer of current resources to future generations.

Sustainable leaders in universities play a critical role in raising awareness of sustainability both within the academic community and in society as a whole. These leaders lead the development and implementation of eco-friendly practices and policies, while also increasing the awareness and participation of students and staff in sustainability matters. Sustainable leaders set an example in areas such as efficient resource use, waste management, promotion of renewable energy sources, and sustainable research projects. Thus, universities stand out not only as centers of education and research but also as institutions that cultivate individuals with high environmental responsibility and contribute to society. Under the guidance of sustainable leaders, universities contribute to building healthier and more resilient communities both environmentally and socially in the long term.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of sustainable leadership on job performance in universities located in Istanbul. The "Sustainable Leadership Scale," developed by Dalati et al. (2017), consisting of 10 items and a single dimension, was used in the study. According to the correlation analysis results obtained for 720 academics, there is a 45.8% positive significant relationship between sustainable leadership and job performance. The regression analysis results indicated that sustainable leadership positively and significantly affects job performance (β=0.513, p<0.01). Thus, it has been observed that the concept of sustainable leadership style in universities positively impacts job performance.

Keywords:

Sustainable Leadership, Job Performance, Universities, Statistical Analysis.