The mediating role of leader-member exchange in the effect of transformational leadership on organizational commitment: A research in the aviation sector

Institutions need transformative leaders to achieve better results. Employees have a great contribution to the success of transformational leaders. High levels of employee commitment to the organization contribute to the survival of businesses in competitive conditions. In this research, it is aimed to determine that transformational leadership, which is present in today's business world, is also present in the aviation sector, and to examine the mediating role of leader-member exchange in the effect of transformational leadership on organizational commitment. In this context, data was collected by survey method from 290 personnel working as pilots in the Istanbul, an airline company that has a very important place in our country's civil aviation. According to the findings of the research, it has been determined that the transformative behaviors of the leader positively increase the interaction they establish with the employees (pilots) and at the same time, it has been determined that the pilots working with the transformational leader are more committed to their organizations. In addition, it was concluded that leader-member exchange has a partial mediating effect on the effect of transformational leadership on organizational commitment.