Leader emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, trust and team commitment : testing a model within a team context
Date
2008-06-30
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS Publishing
Abstract
This exploratory study tested a model within a team context consisting of transformationalleadership
behaviour, team-leader emotional intelligence, trust (both in the team leader and in the
team members) and team commitment. It was conducted within six manufacturing plants, with
25 teams participating. Of the 320 surveys distributed to these teams, 178 were received (which equals
a 56% response rate). The surveys consisted of the multi-factor leadership questionnaire (MLQ), the
Swinburne University emotional intelligence test (SUEIT), the organisational-commitment scale
(OCS) (adapted for team commitment) and the workplace trust survey (WTS). The validity of these
scales was established using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
The Cronbach alpha was used to assess the reliability of the scales. The model was tested using
structural equation modelling (SEM); an acceptable level of model fit was found. Significant positive
relationships were further found among all the constructs. Such an integrated model has not been
tested in a team context before and the positive findings therefore add to existing teamwork literature.
The finding that transformational leadership and leader emotional intelligence are positively related
to team commitment and trust further emphasises the importance of effective leadership behaviour
in team dynamics and performance.
Description
CITATION: Schlechter, A. F. & Strauss, J. J. 2008. Leader emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, trust and team commitment : testing a model within a team context. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 34(1):42-53, doi: 10.4102/sajip.v34i1.418.
The original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.za
The original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.za
Keywords
Leadership, Trust, Teams in the workplace, Emotional intelligence
Citation
Schlechter, A. F. & Strauss, J. J. 2008. Leader emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, trust and team commitment : testing a model within a team context. South African Journal of Industrial Psychology, 34(1):42-53, doi: 10.4102/sajip.v34i1.418.