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

Abstract

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