Servant leadership as a vector of cohesion and social identification in the military training of Spanish officers

García-Guiu, C. ; Laguía, A. ; Vadillo, N. ; Moriano, J. A. ; Lozano, N. ; Trujillo, F. ; Edú-Valsania, S. ; Molero., F.

Resumen: Purpose: In the field of Defense and Security, this study examines military education with research that allows conclusions to be drawn to define the competencies of leaders through the servant leadership model. The study contributes to research in the context of academic training on the relationship between servant leadership and relevant variables related to teamwork, such as self-efficacy, commitment, organizational identification and group cohesion. Design/methodology/approach: The study is carried out through a cross-sectional quantitative design with the use of validated questionnaires in which the followers express their assessment of the leaders responsible for the unit. The participants were 379 cadets (86.3% male; 21.1 years on average). The results are analyzed with structural equation models, using the partial least squares technique.
Findings: The main findings show the adequacy of the proposed model, in which servant leadership and the two mediating variables, work engagement and self-efficacy, are positively related. These two mediating variables are also positively related to the outcome variables: organizational identification and cohesion. The relationship between servant leadership and organizational identification is entirely mediated by work engagement and self-efficacy, while in the case of the relationship between servant leadership and cohesion, this mediation is partial. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional análisis limits the knowledge about the evolution of the leadership process and approaching the causal relationships between the variables studied in a more clarifying way. Despite their relevance in the present work in the context of performance and military training. It is also considered of interest in future research to expand the studies in the context of the operational units, with graduate officers. Practical implications: Having a model based on servant leadership, supported by scientific evidence, provides concrete references to train cadets in leadership competencies and favors the establishment of teaching guidelines. It allows establishing references to teachers and instructions of a model that favors the cohesion and development of organizational identification in the military institution. Originality/value: The research proposes an original model based on servant leadership, for the correct exercise of the military profession and the effective performance of institutions at the service of society. Through the competencies of servant leadership, the study favors inspiration to develop military education and training curricula.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1108/JOLE-03-2025-0029

Año: 2026

Publicado en: Journal of Research on Leadership Education (2026), [17 pp.]
ISSN: 1942-7751

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/CUD2024-06

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)