First-line managers’ work conditions as antecedents of transformational leadership

• Transformational leadership is one of the most researched leadership styles of today; nevertheless, surprisingly little attention has been paid to its antecedents. In this study, questionnaire data from 322 first-line managers and 3001 of their subordinates were used to investigate the association between first-line managers’ self-rated work conditions and their displayed transformational leadership, as rated by their subordinates; also, whether superiors’ leadership is associated with first-line managers’ displayed transformational leadership. The results showed that performance feedback, skill discretion, and social capital were positively associated with first-line managers’ transformational leadership, whereas role conflict and span of control were negatively associated with transformational leadership. No  association was found between superiors’ leadership and transformational leadership. These results suggest that changes in leaders’ work situation might facilitate an increased display of transformational leadership behaviours.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Work characteristics; Transformational leadership; First-line managers

Community medicine

Samhällsmedicin

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)