Transformational leadership has been widely researched and associated with followers' performance attitudes health and well-being. However less research has focused on the antecedents of transformational leadership behaviors. A few studies have examined the characteristics of followers and the attitudes of transformational leaders themselves. There is however a lack of knowledge on how the context may encourage transformational leadership behaviors.

A study of 58 middle managers from two companies in Denmark; a private accountancy firm and a public elderly care explored this. Using the Experience Sampling Method and questionnaires itwas found that both situational factors and working conditions were associated with transformational leadership behaviors at work. The results suggest that research strategies usingmultiple levels and methods can provide additional information on the antecedents of transformational leadership behaviors in middle managers.