The moderating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between transformational leadership, organizational citizenship behavior, innovative work behavior, and employee performance in commercial banks in Vietnam

Background Improving employee performance (EP) to enhance organizational performance (OP) is a central concern for many organizations. There is still limited research on the influence of transformational leadership style (TLS) on employee behavior, thereby promoting EP or research on the emotional involvement in the relationship between TLS and employee behavior. Objective Examining the moderating role of emotional intelligence (EI) in the relationship between transformational leadership (TL), employee behavior including innovative work behavior (IWB), and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), EP. Methods Data from 309 employees in commercial banks in Vietnam were analyzed using PLS-SEM with SmartPLS 4.0 to test hypotheses. Results The direct effects of TL on IWB, EP, OCB, IWB on EP, OCB on EP, IWB were all supported. IWB mediates the relationships between TL and EP, OCB and EP; OCB mediates the relationships between TL and EP, TL and IWB. EI plays moderating role in the relationships between TL and IWB, TL and EP. Conclusion TLS plays a vital role in fostering IWB, OCB, and enhancing EP. Employees with high EI can strengthen the impact of TL on both IWB and EP. Managers should focus on improving employees’ EI and applying TLS to change employee behavior, thus improving EP.