The effect of leadership charisma, engagement and group belonging on volunteer work performance: AKUT search and rescue association example

Leadership charisma, has been emphasized in terms of performance improvement by inspiring organization’s values and norms and making employees spend extra effort for oganization’s objectives especially in hospitals and voluntary organizations (Choi, 2006; Etzioni, 1975; Grojean vd., 2004; Pillai ve Meindl, 1998; Shamir vd., 1993; Sims ve Brinkmann, 2002; Yammarino vd., 1993). In previous studies emphasis was usually on the effects of leadership charisma on work performance. Studies in Turkey have not examined the relationship between work performance, leadership charisma, group belonging and engagement of volunteer employees. The aim of this study is to suggest that; for volunteer employees in normative organizations, group belonging and work engagement is more effective than leadership charisma in terms of work performance. In this respect it might be related to discussions that effective leadership which improves employees’ performance and capabilities (Yukl, 2006). This study has taken place in AKUT search and rescue association which operates totally voluntarily in 32 different regions and the findings of hierarchical regression analysis support the hypotheses put forward.