Transformational Leadership and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors: The Role of Organizational Identification

Abstract

This study investigated the role of organizational identification as a mediator of the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behaviors. Participants were 128 employees from organizations in Kansas and Missouri that varied in size and industry. Employees were given Bass and Avolio’s Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire Form 5x-Short, Podsakoff and colleagues’ Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale, and Mael and Ashforth’s Organizational Identification Scale. Results indicated transformational leadership did predict organizational citizenship behaviors, but organizational identification did not mediate the relationship. Organizational identification was negatively related to both transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behaviors. However, laissez-faire leadership was positively related to organizational identification and negatively related to organizational citizenship behaviors. These findings have practical implications for organizations seeking to establish and maintain effective leadership and positive employee behaviors.