How transformational leadership predicts employees’ affective commitment and performance

Author(s):

Neuza Ribeiro, (CARME – Centre of Applied Research in Management and Economics, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal)

İlhami Yücel, (Erzincan Universitesi, Erzincan, Turkey)

Daniel Gomes, (Instituto Politecnico de Coimbra Escola Superior de Educacao de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal)

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Abstract:

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of transformational leadership (TL) on employees’ individual performance (IP) through the mediating role of affective commitment (AC). More specifically, it aims to understand how TL relates to employees’ AC, TL relates to employees’ IP, employees’ AC relates to IP and employees’ AC mediates the relationship between TL and employees’ IP.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 476 Turkish healthcare professionals participated in this study. The mediation effect of AC in the relationship between TL and employees’ IP was tested by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results indicate that AC mediates the relationship between TL and employees’ IP. In others words, transformational leaders promote employees’ AC which, in turn, increases their IP.

Practical implications

This study suggests that organizations should select, develop and invest in leaders who adopt a TL style because they build a climate of admiration, loyalty, respect, participation and involvement for employees which will in turn enhance their commitment and performance.

Originality/value

This study responds to calls for research studies to explore the mediating mechanism in the TL process (Judge et al., 2006), as the mediation effects explain the conditions in which TL is related to the favorable outcomes.

Keywords:

Affective commitment, Transformational leadership, Individual performance

Type:

Research paper

Publisher:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Received:

24 September 2017

Revised:

02 February 2018, 06 April 2018, 03 June 2018

Accepted:

03 August 2018

Copyright:

© Emerald Publishing Limited 2018
Published by Emerald Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only

Citation:

Neuza Ribeiro, İlhami Yücel, Daniel Gomes, (2018) "How transformational leadership predicts employees’ affective commitment and performance", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 67 Issue: 9, pp.1901-1917, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-09-2017-0229

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