Transformational leadership, organizational culture, and psychological empowerment: evidence from Punjab Police, Pakistan

Purpose This study investigates how transformational leadership influences psychological empowerment among police officers, emphasizing the mediating role of organizational culture. Focusing on the Punjab Police, Pakistan, it seeks to illuminate how leadership dynamics and cultural mechanisms shape empowerment within hierarchical policing institutions. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 412 officers, with 386 valid responses analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the adequacy of the measurement model, and bootstrapping procedures tested the mediation effects. Findings The SEM results indicate that transformational leadership has a significant positive effect on psychological empowerment (β = 0.493, p < 0.001). Organizational culture also exerts a significant influence on psychological empowerment (β = 0.561, p < 0.001) and partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and empowerment (indirect effect = 0.231, 95% CI [0.171, 0.302]). Practical implications The results highlight the importance of integrating transformational leadership training with organizational culture development initiatives. Leadership programs focusing on trust, collaboration, and innovation can enhance officers' intrinsic motivation and job satisfaction, ultimately improving institutional performance and public trust in policing. Originality/value By empirically testing the mediating role of organizational culture in a South Asian policing context, this study contributes to leadership and empowerment theory. It demonstrates that even within rigid and hierarchical systems, transformational leadership supported by a constructive culture can significantly foster psychological empowerment among police personnel.