Abstract:
This study aims to identify the relationship and effect between transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles with emotional intelligence and cognitive styles, and employees’ perceived leadership styles with job burnout. A survey was carried out among 83 leaders and 227 employees (N=310) from the banking industry in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Results revealed that transactional and laissez-faire leaderships were significantly related to emotional intelligence. Transformational and transactional leaderships positively correlate with intuition and analysis, while laissez-faire leadership was found to have a significant negative relationship with analysis. Employee perceived transformational leadership was significantly and positively related to professional efficacy only while perceived transactional leadership was significantly and positively related to exhaustion, cynicism and professional efficacy. Perceived laissez-faire leadership was significantly and positively related to cynicism and negatively related to professional efficacy. This research highlights the importance of examining the association between leadership styles, emotional intelligence, and burnout in the banking industry. Findings from this study serve as a guide for human resource management and professional practitioners in the selection of appropriate leaders to increase organizational development and employee productivity.
