Examining the impact of leadership style and coaching on employees’ commitment and trust

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analytically extend the understanding of leadership styles and organisational coaching and their influence on organisational outcomes and workplace counterproductive behaviours within a non-Western context, i.e. the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach In this study, a sample size of 656 participants from 14 different business sectors in the Emirates was used. The meta-analysis concept of latent variables and non-linear principal components analysis, along with the corresponding methodology of structural equation modelling, were implemented. Findings The study finds that organisational coaching has a significant positive effect on transactional leadership and has a significant influence on job alienation. Interestingly, coaching has a significant effect on commitment and counterproductive workplace behaviours. The detailed data analysis using F tests and independent t-tests, when applicable, indicated that there was a tendency for older employees to have more favourable attitudes towards transformational leadership or commitment but not towards coaching. Originality/value Despite the popularity of the presented topic in today's organisations, research in a Middle East context has not kept pace with its counterpart in Western areas of the world. The present study attempts to bridge the gap between Western theories in developed countries and under-researched Eastern countries, namely, the UAE, and to test the impact of leadership styles and organisational coaching and their influence on employee commitment and trust mediated by job bullying and job alienation.