Beyond the job description Exploring the mediating role of leaders’ emotional intelligence on the nexus between leadership styles and voluntary workplace behaviours in the Ghanaian banking sector

Abstract

Purpose – The primary aim of this study was to determine whether or not leaders’ emotional intelligence plays a mediating role in the relationship between leadership styles and voluntary work behaviours among employees of selected banks in Ghana. Specifically, the objective was to determine the mediating effect of leaders’ emotional intelligence on the relationship between transactional and transformational leadership styles and organizational citizenship behaviours (OCB) and counterproductive workplace behaviours (CWB). Design/methodology/approach – The quantitative approach to research was adopted to collect data from 234 respondents. More so, both purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used for the selection of respondents for the study. Findings – The findings of the study revealed that amongst the various leadership styles and OCB and CWB relationships, only the relationship between transformational leadership and OCB was mediated by leaders’ emotional intelligence. Practical implications – It was however recommended that transformational leadership style be adopted in the quest to encourage employees to exhibit OCB and mitigate employees’ involvement in CWB since such leaders are more prone to exhibiting high levels of emotional intelligence in the dealing with employees. Originality/value – For the first time in the Ghanaian banking sector, this research explores the leaders’ emotional intelligence as mediator on the nexus between leadership styles and voluntary work behaviours of employees of selected banks in Ghana.