The Role of Transformational Leadership in Job Empowerment through Emotional Intelligence as a Mediating Variable

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the role of transformational leadership in enhancing employee empowerment through emotional intelligence as a mediating variable in government institutions in Qatar. The study's significance stems from addressing a research gap in Arabic literature by examining the integrative relationship between these three variables in a comprehensive model supporting Qatar National Vision 2030. The study followed a descriptive-analytical approach, applying an electronic questionnaire to a stratified random sample of 203 employees from Qatari government institutions. The questionnaire included reliable measures for transformational leadership, emotional intelligence, and employee empowerment with their various dimensions, demonstrating high reliability coefficients ranging from 0.930 to 0.982. Results revealed a very strong positive relationship between transformational leadership and employee empowerment (r=0.832), with transformational leadership explaining 69.2% of variance in employee empowerment. The study also showed a moderate relationship between transformational leadership and emotional intelligence (r=0.306) and a medium relationship between emotional intelligence and employee empowerment (r=0.466). Path analysis confirmed the partial mediating role of emotional intelligence, with an indirect effect of 0.0688, meaning 8.6% of the total effect occurs through emotional intelligence. The study provided practical recommendations including developing specialized training programs in transformational leadership, integrating emotional intelligence skills development in leadership programs, developing supportive policies for employee empowerment, and establishing centers of excellence for leadership and empowerment. Results confirm the pivotal role of transformational leadership in enhancing employee empowerment and provide a strong scientific foundation for developing administrative practices in Qatar's government sector.