Self-Reported Dimensions Associated With Spiritual Intelligence And Perceived Team Performance: An Exploratory Study Among Romanian Managers And Leaders

Spiritual intelligence has increasingly been examined as a potential resource for value-based leadership and organizational functioning. However, the construct remains conceptually heterogeneous, and existing measurement approaches differ considerably in the dimensions they include. The present study therefore does not claim to measure spiritual intelligence through a validated scale, but examines an exploratory composite score derived from selfreported dimensions associated with the construct. The study investigates the relationship between this composite score and perceived changes in team performance among managers and leaders in Romania. A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design was employed. Data was collected from 49 valid respondents between January 24 and February 5, 2026. Four conceptual dimensions: meaning and purpose orientation, reflective awareness and cognitive flexibility, value integration and ethical discernment, and relational awareness and inner balance, guided the organization of 14 items. Because these dimensions did not demonstrate sufficient reliability as separate subscales, the items were combined into a single exploratory composite score, which showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=.768). Perceived team performance was measured through respondents’ assessment of changes in overall team performance during the previous 12 months. Spearman’s rank-order correlation indicated a positive and statistically significant association between the composite score and perceived team performance (ρ=.356, p=.012). The findings suggest that stronger self-reported orientations toward meaning, reflection, values, relational awareness, and inner balance are associated with more favorable perceptions of team performance. Given the small nonprobability sample and self-reported data, the findings should not be interpreted causally or generalized beyond the investigated sample.