The influence of transformational leadership on organisational citizenship behaviour in a South African combat military unit

Abstract

This study investigated perceived individual transformational leadership (TL) to influence behaviours on follower organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) in a South African combat military unit. A sample of 300 of 567 military followers (males = 78%; black Africans = 82%) completed a survey on their perceptions of transformational leadership qualities among their leaders who were trained in TL: Idealised influence, Inspirational motivation, Intellectual stimulation and Individualised consideration. The military followers also self-reported on their own OCB: Altruism, Civic virtue, Courtesy, Sportsmanship and Conscientiousness. Data were analysed utilising regression analysis to predict military followers’ self-reported OCB from perceived TL behaviours. Findings indicated that only Individualised consideration could significantly predict the OCB dimensions of Altruism, Civic virtue, Sportsmanship and Conscientiousness, but not Courtesy.