The Role of Leadership Styles in Determining Employee Performance: Study of Divisional Secretariats in Mannar District

Abstract

Managers and leaders play a critical role in achieving productivity in organizations, as they are in charge of setting direction and executing, on behalf of all employees to achieve organizational goals. The present study attempts to investigate the effect of leadership styles on employee performance. Survey method was used, and a sample of 137 employees was selected from the combined services grade employees working in the divisional secretariats in Mannar District. Leadership styles were measured using a Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), form 5x – rater form, and employee performance was measured using Role Based Performance Scale. The results of the study revealed that the transformational leadership style significantly and positively influences employee performance, while the transactional leadership style has no significant influence on employee performance. The results of the study would be useful for the leaders and administrators of the divisional secretariats to gain insight about the need to adopt the transformational leadership style to improve performance among employees.