Transformational Leadership, Workplace Incivility, Emotional Intelligence, and Their Influence on Employee Work Engagement: A Systematic Review

Abstract: This systematic review examined the influence of transformational leadership, workplace incivility, and emotional intelligence on employee work engagement. The study was motivated by the growing recognition of engagement as a key driver of organizational performance and employee well-being. The objective was to synthesize existing empirical evidence on how these three factors shape engagement levels in diverse workplace settings. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and analyzed peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2024. Databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar were searched, and relevant studies were screened based on predefined eligibility criteria. A narrative synthesis approach was adopted to integrate findings from quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research. The findings revealed that transformational leadership consistently enhanced work engagement by fostering inspiration, trust, and psychological safety. Workplace incivility, on the other hand, significantly undermined engagement by increasing stress and reducing employees' emotional investment in their work. Emotional intelligence emerged as a critical personal resource, helping employees sustain engagement by managing stress and maintaining positive workplace relationships. Despite these insights, limitations such as cross-sectional designs and self-report biases were noted. The study highlighted the importance of positive leadership, respectful workplace interactions, and emotional competence in promoting employee engagement. Organizations were recommended to invest in leadership development programs, implement policies to reduce incivility, and incorporate emotional intelligence training into employee well-being initiatives. Future research should explore longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to strengthen causal inferences and broaden practical applicability.

Transformational leadership, Workplace incivility, Emotional intelligence, Work engagement, Organizational behavior

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