Followers’ Motives as Moderators of the Effects of Transformational Leadership Behaviors on Follower Outcomes and Leaders’ Influence

Abstract The present paper reports three studies that were based on the general proposition effectiveness of transformational leadership (TL) depends whether displayed TL behaviors match followers’ motives. Specifically, inspirational motivation should be effective with followers high power motive, intellectual stimulation achievement and individual consideration affiliation motive. In study 1, in order to confirm hypothesized conceptual relationships between motives, we systematically analyzed literature ( N = 139 papers) for motive content found, as predicted, descriptions motivation, stimulation, associated power, achievement, content, respectively. Study 2, a vignette study, confirmed participants’ 113) motives determined their preferences respective behaviors. 3 116), manipulated video clips predictions [power] moderated effects [inspirational motivation] leaders’ influence task performance. Mixed results obtained regarding expected moderating function stimulation. Findings are discussed respect importance establishing theory.