INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP STYLES ON EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE IN IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI

Abstract

This study examined the influence of leadership on employees’ performance with afocus on Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri. The specific objectives of the study are to: ascertainhow democratic leadership style influences employees’ performance at Imo State University; verifythe extent autocratic leadership style influences employees’ performance at Imo State University;and examine how transformational leadership style influences employees’ performance at Imo StateUniversity. The study adopted the path-goal theory of leadership as the framework for analysis. Thesurvey research design was utilized. The population of the study consists of 1,667 IMSU staff, andthe sample size of 323 was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. The multi-stage samplingtechnique was utilized for the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire instrument, anddescriptive statistics (mean) were used for analysis. The study revealed that the democraticleadership style has a considerable positive influence on employees’ performance, and thetransformational leadership style has a notable positive influence on employees’ performance.However, the autocratic leadership style does not have a considerable positive influence onemployees’ performance in Imo State University, Owerri. The study recommended less emphasison autocratic leadership styles, more emphasis on workers’ participation, innovation and creativity;and effective training on the issue of leadership.