Turnover intentions: Do leadership behaviors and satisfaction with the leader matter?

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the relationship between leadership behaviors (transformational and transactional), satisfaction with the leader, and voluntary turnover intentions. In particular, it aims to investigate the mediation effect of satisfaction with the leader on the relationship between leadership behaviors and voluntary turnover organizational intentions. Design/methodology/approach: Participants were 208 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I softball and volleyball assistant coaches in the USA. Using the multifactor leadership questionnaire (MLQ - Form 5X) and an organizational turnover intent questionnaire, participants evaluated their head coach's leadership behavior, satisfaction with the leader, and their own organizational turnover intent. Findings: Results revealed a direct negative relationship between leadership behaviors (transformational and transactional) and voluntary organizational turnover intentions. Also, satisfaction with the leader mediated the negative relationship between leadership behaviors (transformational and transactional) and voluntary turnover intentions. Research limitations/implications: The study was limited by the use of professional associations to contact participants, the timing of the data collection, and the exploration of only one of numerous possible mediating variables. Several management implications are discussed, such as managers recognizing that both leadership behaviors can be the basis for effective leadership of work teams and for mitigating voluntary turnover intentions. Originality/value: The paper's principal theoretical contribution is the addition of satisfaction with the leader as a mediating variable between transformational and transactional leadership behavior and voluntary organizational turnover intentions.