LEADERSHIP STYLES AND EMPLOYEES MOTIVATION

ABSTRACT

Leadership is pivotal to the motivation of employees in any organisation. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of different leadership styles on employee motivation. Bethel Faith Medical Centre, Ekenwan Road, Benin City, Nigeria, was used as the study location. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A total of 103 staff of the medical centre were interviewed using a well-structured questionnaire. The completed questionnaires were collected and data analyzed. The results were represented using tables, charts, percentages and descriptive statistics. Chi-square was used for comparative analysis of results at 95% confidence interval. The results indicated that staff aged between 29 and 39 years, males, OND/HND holders, singles, and staff with 1-5 years working experience were the most represented with 46.6%, 68.0%, 46.6%, 62.1% and 38.8%, respectively. 74.8% of the staff supported autocratic leadership style; 93.2% supported democratic style; 95.1% supported transformational leadership style and 86.4% supported transactional leadership style. Regression analysis indicated that autocratic leadership style had an insignificant 3.0% impact on employee motivation; democratic leadership style had a significant 18.0% impact on employee motivation; transformational leadership style had a 41.0% significant impact on employee motivation and transactional leadership style had an insignificant 3.0% impact on employee motivation. Results from descriptive analysis and regression analysis indicated that transformational leadership is most preferred leadership style amongst the staff of the medical centre. Thus, organisations should embrace the transformational leadership style.