THE INFLUENCE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON FOLLOWERS' PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES: THE CASE OF THAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the influence of transformational leadership and the followers' performance outcomes of the Thai Chamber of Commerce using the moderating variables of political skill, innovative work behavior, and creative work environment. The question remains unanswered as to how the leaders of non-governmental agencies such as the Thai Chamber of Commerce perform in the challenging economic world. The study used empirical research in order to ascertain the important characteristics of transformational leadership in order to seek answers to the questions regarding the theoretical and practical implications of leadership and in order to develop leaders in the context of today’s challenging business environment. The research methodology was exploratory sequential mixed methods. In a sample of 203 committee members from 62 provinces in a wide variety of industries, the research focused on the findings of the 4I characteristics of transformational leadership regarding followers’ performance outcomes. Idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration were seen to be positively related to business network. Further idealized Influence and Intellectual Stimulation were positively related to social network ties, and idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration were positively related to efficacy. The findings regarding the moderating hypotheses were that political skill was positively related to intellectual and social network ties; innovative work behavior was positively related to intellectual and social network ties as well as positively related to intellectual and efficacy; and creative working environment was positively related to intellectual stimulation and social network ties. However, inspirational motivation was not positively related to followers’ performance outcomes. The theoretical and managerial implications for leadership theory and practices are discussed.

Keywords: transformational leadership, business network, social network ties, efficacy, political skill, innovative work behavior, creative work environment