Transformational leadership and team performance

TLDR

Transformational leadership is well studied, yet its specific impact on team performance remains underexplored. The study proposes using transformational leadership theory as a framework to examine leaders’ effects on team performance. Idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration are hypothesized to foster shared vision, commitment, empowerment, and functional conflict, which in turn enhance communication, cohesion, and conflict management. The paper outlines implications for team development, training, and structure, and discusses limitations and future research directions.

Abstract

Despite transformational leadership enjoying success and attention as an exceptional leadership theory, few scholars have investigated a specific link between transformational leadership theory and team performance. As such, we discuss how transformational leadership theory can provide a framework in which to investigate a leader's impact on team performance. We posit that idealized influence/inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration could produce intermediate outcomes such as shared vision, team commitment, an empowered team environment and functional team conflict. In turn, these intermediate outcomes may positively affect team communication, cohesion and conflict management. Implications for team development, team training and team structure are presented. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.