Empowering performance through engagement: the mediating role of employee engagement in the relationship between transformational leadership, self-directed learning, and employee performance in the cosmetics industry

Amid growing competition in the cosmetics industry, this study explores how transformational leadership and self-directed learning relate to employee performance, with employee engagement as a mediating variable. A survey of 105 employees at a cosmetics company was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) with SmartPLS. Results show that transformational leadership significantly enhances engagement but does not directly affect performance. Self-directed learning positively influences both engagement and performance. Employee engagement has the most potent effect on performance, confirming its mediating role. These findings suggest that leadership and learning strategies must be aligned with engagement efforts to optimise employee performance.