Personal epistemological beliefs and transformational leadership behaviours

Abstract

Purpose – To review conceptual links between research on personal epistemological beliefs and leadership behaviours associated with the transformational‐transactional leadership model.Design/methodology/approach – Transformational leaders act as facilitators of learning in organisations, and therefore their beliefs, cognitions and behaviours can be explored in the same manner as teachers in classroom settings. Research on both personal epistemological beliefs and the transformational‐transactional leadership model is reviewed and key conceptual links are identified in the areas of underlying beliefs, metacognition and cognition, and implications for training.Findings – The literature review suggests that strong conceptual links exist between mature personal epistemology and beliefs and behaviours associated with transformational leadership. Similarly, conceptual links exist between less mature personal epistemology and beliefs and behaviours associated with transactional leadership.Research limitations/im...