Transformational-Transactional Leadership Styles and Followers’ Regulatory Focus

Individuals’ willingness to remain in their organizations contributes to workforce stability and organizational effectiveness. Working from the notion that different leadership styles encourage followers to self-regulate in distinct ways, we propose regulatory fit between leadership styles and followers’ self-regulatory preferences may reduce followers’ turnover intentions. Corroborating our reasoning, a survey study showed transformational leadership reduced turnover intentions for highly promotion-focused followers, whereas transactional leadership reduced turnover intentions for highly prevention-focused followers. Thus, tailoring leadership to followers’ self-regulatory preferences may contribute to workforce stability and organizational effectiveness.