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Is transformational leadership always good for employee task performance? Examining curvilinear and moderated relationships

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Listed:
  • Yashuo Chen

    (School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University)

  • Ranran Ning

    (School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University)

  • Tong Yang

    (School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University)

  • Shangjun Feng

    (School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University)

  • Chunjiang Yang

    (School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University)

Abstract

Transformational leadership, generally considered as a desirable leadership style, has positive effects on various performance outcomes of employees; however, its productivity has been called into question because of a relative neglect of its negative aspects. Addressing this gap, an attempt at rethinking the relationship between transformational leadership and employee performance is important. The paradoxical perspective indicates that conflicting positive and negative effects of transformational leadership can coexist, which provides possibility and rationality for thorough consideration of employees’ task performance influenced by transformational leaders. Integrating the principle of diminishing marginal utility and the “Too-Much-of-a-Good-Thing (TMGT)” effect, this research explores an inverted U-shaped relationship between transformational leadership and employee task performance. Furthermore, applying social cognitive theory, we assume an employee’s proactive personality moderates the curvilinear influence of transformational leadership on employees’ task performance. As expected, results from a study of data from 209 supervisor-subordinate relationships from China showed that the inverted U-shaped relationship between transformational leadership and employees’ task performance was moderated by employees’ proactive personality. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Yashuo Chen & Ranran Ning & Tong Yang & Shangjun Feng & Chunjiang Yang, 2018. "Is transformational leadership always good for employee task performance? Examining curvilinear and moderated relationships," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-28, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:fobric:v:12:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1186_s11782-018-0044-8
    DOI: 10.1186/s11782-018-0044-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Jimson Joseph Chumbula & Winnie Nyakundi & Josphat Nyoni & Martin Dandira & Maxwell Chufama & Elias Kandjinga & Andrew Jeremiah, 2021. "Achieving High Employee Performance through Transformational Leadership in the Banking Sector," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(1), pages 461-466, January.

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