Transformational Leadership and Group Climate-Empirical Results from Symphony Orchestras

The study investigates the degree to which the conductor's transformational leadership style and a cooperative climate in the orchestra favorably effect the orchestra 's artistic quality. The authors study the assertion that the conductor's transformational leadership style promotes the orchestra s artistic quality only if there is a cooperative climate in the orchestra. An empirical study of 208 musicians from 22 professional German symphony orchestras confirms the assumed interaction effect of the conductor's transformational leadership style and the cooperative climate among the musicians on the orchestra's artistic quality. Conclusions for the effectiveness of transformational leadership in organizations are drawn.