Effects of Green Transformational Leadership on Green Employee Involvement: A Concept Paper

This concept paper examines the relationship between green transformational leadership (GTL) and green employee involvement (GEI), highlighting how leadership practices can inspire and sustain employee involvement in sustainability initiatives. The primary objective is to develop a conceptual framework that explains the mechanisms through which GTL fosters GEI, emphasizing its role in enhancing organizational environmental performance. A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2024 was conducted using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, applying keywords such as “green transformational leadership,†“green employee involvement,†and “green human resource management.†Seventeen high-quality studies were analysed, revealing that GTL significantly influences GEI through vision-setting, role modelling, empowerment, and the integration of green human resource management (GHRM) practices This study is underpinned by Transformational Leadership Theory, which explains how leaders inspire employees toward environmental goals, Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity (AMO) Theory, which highlights the importance of leadership in providing employees with the resources and incentives for green engagement, and Social Identity Theory, which describes how employees adopt pro-environmental behaviours by identifying with sustainability-focused leaders and organizations. Findings indicate that GTL fosters a shared environmental responsibility, motivating employees to actively contribute to sustainability initiatives such as waste reduction, energy conservation, and eco-innovation. This study contributes to leadership and sustainability literature by offering a theoretical foundation for future empirical research and providing practical insights for organizations seeking to enhance green employee involvement. The proposed framework serves as a valuable guide for academics and practitioners in leveraging leadership for sustainable organizational transformation.