Linking Transformational Leadership to Self-Efficacy, Extra-Role Behaviors, and Turnover Intentions in Public Agencies: The Mediating Role of Goal Clarity

Abstract

Although transformational leadership and goal clarity have been linked separately to self-efficacy, extra-role behaviors, and turnover intentions, research has not fully considered how transformational leadership and goal clarity work together to influence these attitudes and behaviors. This article builds upon previous management and leadership theories by developing a causal model to explore exactly how transformational leadership and goal clarity collaborate to influence self-efficacy, extra-role behaviors, and turnover intentions. Moreover, the model was tested on public sector employees in the United States. The findings showed that goal clarity completely mediated the relationship between transformational leadership and both self-efficacy and extra-role behaviors. Goal clarity was also found to partially mediate the relationship between transformational leadership and turnover intentions. In addition, self-efficacy had a positive impact on extra-role behaviors and turnover intentions. The managerial and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in the article.