Heightening citizenship behaviours of academicians through transformational leadership: Evidence based interventions

Abstract

The citizenship behavior of academicians in higher education is of pronounced significance that certainly requires consideration. Nevertheless, such behavior can be stimulated through a leadership style that has received rare attention. Therefore, this study proposed an integrated research model that explores how transformational leadership influences citizenship behaviors through rarely used dimensions Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Organization and Organizational Citizenship Behaviour Individual by addressing the mediating role of workplace spirituality and emotional intelligence. We integrated two theoretical models of social exchange and transformational leadership to describe the underlying linkages. Using data from 408 academicians working in public sector universities and by employing Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling we provided support for our hypothesis to validate the research model. This study focuses on a typology of the second-order hierarchical latent variable model that includes reflective—formative relationships with emphasis on the repeated indicator approach. The findings of this study provide empirical evidence and encouraging justifications for the substantial influence of workplace spirituality and emotional intelligence on the relationship between transformational leadership and citizenship behaviours.