GREEN LEADERSHIP AND GREEN PROJECT PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GREEN EMPLOYEE VOICE BEHAVIOR IN THE PAKISTANI CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

Abstract

Purpose- This study examines the impact of green leadership (GL) on green project performance (GPP) in Pakistan’s organizations, with a focus on the mediating roles of green employee voice behavior (GEVB). 

Design/Methodology- A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 employees from 50 leading construction firms (C1- Contractors) registered with Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Data was collected via structured questionnaires (5-point Likert scale) distributed both online (Google Forms) and on-site. The study employed PLS-SEM (Smarts 4) for analysis, ensuring robust statistical validation. 

Findings- Green leadership (GL) has a direct influence on green project performance (GPP) and positively affects green employee voice behavior (GEVB), which, in turn, significantly enhances project performance. Notably, GEVB functions as an effective mediating variable, indicating that empowering employees is a crucial mechanism for translating leadership vision into sustainability-oriented practices. These findings demonstrate that the influence of leadership is both immediate and amplified through employee engagement. Consequently, the results contribute to the theoretical understanding of leadership and project sustainability by positioning employees’ responses as a natural outcome of effective, ethical, and environmentally conscious leadership.

Managerial Implications- Organizations are able not only to improve performance on the projects, but also establish lasting competitive advantage as employee-introduced green innovations become a key tool towards achieving environmental and corporate social responsibility goals.