Several studies have examined the relationship between leadership and employee
engagement, however, only a few have attempted to study the linkage specifically between
the multidimensional constructs of transformational leadership and employee work
engagement. Avolio, Bass and Jung (1999) define transformational leaders as being
charismatic in their ability to influence employees to go above and beyond what is
expected of them, for the greater good of the organization. Schaufeli, Salanova, Gonzalez-
Roma and Bakker (2002) discuss engagement in terms of employee vigor, dedication, and
absorption at work.
The main purpose of this thesis is to explore the relationship between
transformational leadership and employee job engagement. Specifically, it is hypothesized
that transformational leadership will have a positive relationship with engagement, and will
also be most predictive of job engagement over and above the control variables discussed
in this study, namely, social support received by employees, and job resources available to
them at work.