EFFECT OF LEADERSHIP STYLE ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE
ABSTRACT
This research examines the effect of leadership style on employee performance. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of leadership style on the employee performance; also it is to determine the influence of leadership style on employee performance. Identify the type of leadership style existing in the organization. To identify the leadership style that will enhance employee performance in an organization. Simple random sampling technique and Taro Yamen's formula where used to draw the population and sample. The population of the study was 316 of which the total sample size drawn was 300. The method of data collection was both primary and secondary. The study utilized questionnaire administered by the researcher with response supplied by the respondents. The findings show that there is an implication of leadership style on employee performance. It was recommended that The leader should endeavour at all times to create a good working relationship between him and the organizational members since it is believed that his attitude influences employee’s productivity, The leadership style in organization should avoid any behaviour that would have adverse effect on the employees that could cause low productivity, absenteeism production, below standard as a result of inappropriate leadership and A conducive work environment should be created by management and ensure that adequate technology and facilities are available for the employees to execute their job, without which production will never rise. It is worthy to note that manual labour does not improve employee performance.







1.1    INTRODUCTION
Leadership is the ability to influence others. A leader is one who is able to coordinate the activities of others, within a group, towards achieving a common goal or objectives. A leader could emerge when the position of leadership is conferred on the person, or he could just emerge from the group of assume the position of a leader. Leadership could be seen from two perspectives, one it is a status symbol, in which case, the leader stands out from the crowd.
Two, leadership is a function, in which the leader carries out the duty of coordinating task related activities directed towards the realization of the organizational goals. The term leadership is an elusive but fascinating concept that has engaged researchers for some present when people work together to achieve a common goals. To a large extent an achievement of an organizational goal depends on the quality of leadership. The term leadership has been considered as one of the most important elements affecting organizational performance for the managers.
Leaders have significant effects on the behavior attitudes and the performance of the employees. Leadership is an important aspect of management. The essence of leadership is followership that is the willingness of people to follow and make a person a leader. An effective performance of the employee, there must be the act of inspiring employees to perform their duties willingly competently and enthusiastically. According to Kontz et al (2002) inflaming people so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically toward the achievement of group goals.
Szitagy et al (2000) sees leadership as the relationship between two to more people in which one attempt to influence the others towards the accomplishment of certain goals. The key to this definition is that leadership is a function of power based on the leader approach or behavior of the leader and the correspondence of those factors with the characteristics, needs and decision roles of the employee.
In every organization it must be decided how many employee, a leader can lead for effective purpose, where a leader lead more than the required number of employee, then it will be affected for this reason a leader is responsible and entrusted to performed such leadership as process, the process of directing and influencing the task related activities of groups, members.
The above definition shows two important implications first, leadership must involve or engage distribution of power among leaders and group member. Secondly, leader can influence employee in a variety of ways.
Gibreath (2004), that almost everyone has the potentials to be a leader. Their environment will suppress or reward the characteristics that are required with the right amount of training and inherent skills, people will succeed as a leader only if there to environment nature when what is required is an atmosphere that reward people for what they deliver to encourage innovations and calculate risk-taking and that cherishes creativity. One factor that influence the effect of leadership styles is motivation.
Stomer Style (2002) defines motivation as that which cause channels and sustain people behavior. The above definition is important to leaders as they work through people will help leaders understand why employee behave the way they do and can influence the performance of the employee.
Baridam (2007) refers leadership styles to the patterns of constellation of leadership behavior that characterized a given leader. Mees (2005) sees leadership styles at the right of a manager to assign duties to an employee i.e. the process and method of getting people to do what the leader wants. The Knotz (2008) he identified leadership based on the use of authority, he mentored the autocratic leader someone rho command the expect compliance, It is dogmatic and positive, leaders with the ability to withhold and give reward and punishment, while the democratic leader consult with the employee on proposed action and decision and encourage participation from the employee
The free-reins otherwise known as the laissez-fair Kontz said, this type of leader use his/her power very little given employees, a high degree of independent in their operations. Baridam (2007) stated that the ability of the leader to vary leadership behavior to suit different situational demand.
1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The effect of leadership in the overall success of an organization cannot be over-emphasized. Many organizations have not been able to attain the set goals adopted in those organizations. Robbins and Smart-Kotze, (200).
The path-goal approach suggests that the most important leadership tool mangers have is their ability to dispense rewards (Evans and House 2001) Inappropriate leadership styles have been resulting poor performance in the work place. Some leaders do not define path-goal clearly to their subordinators due to poor communication and lack of managerial skills.
However, communication is inducing others to interpret an idea in a manner intended by the speaker or writer. Flippo (2003). In this regard communication plays an important role in a behavioural approach. Precisely, the problem of this study is to identify inappropriate leadership styles and their potential disadvantage and potential consequences on the attainment of organizational goals.
The problem should be concern to managers (leaders) at different levels. Most importantly, a good leadership is a life wire of a successful organization.
It is obvious that the implication of leadership style on productivity will result within the organization for instance, lack of trust towards subordinates, non establishment of good working condition, non appreciation for job well done, lack of motivation and welfare for subordinates. This nonchalant attitude could lead to creation of idle time by the subordinated which results to poor productivity. Alternative solution towards the achievement or organization goals is a problem this study attempt to solve. The problem to be investigated in the course of this studies are:
1.    How leadership styles managers affect employees performance.
2.    The reaction of employees to leadership style.
3.    The leadership styles adopted by employees in the banks.
1.3    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
            The main objective of this study is to examine:
             Determine the influence of leadership style on employee performance.
Identify the type of leadership style existing in the organization.
To identify the leadership style that will enhance employee performance in an organization.
RESEARCH QUESTION
The following are the various research questions that has been raised as an operational question to guide the behavior of the research work.
What are the types of leadership style existing in the organization?
What are the influences of leadership style on employees performance.
To identify the leadership style that will enhance employee performance in an organization.
1.5    RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
H0: There is no implication of leadership style on employee performance.
Hi: There is an implication of leadership style on employee performance.
1.6    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study will be of great benefit to managements, employees and to all actors in the organizations as whole. This will enable the manager to know the types of leadership style to adopt in their effort to achieve organizational set goals as well us how the style will influence productivity in their organization. Also this study is important/essential because it will enable the coordinator in organizing, to know the style of leadership preferred by their employee. This research focused on the styles that will use for effective job performance in an organization.
This study well serve as a stepping-stone to any individual who may be willing to go into business, but for the fear of how to make an effective and efficient use of human resources that they employ.
1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research study will be delimited to identifying the leadership effect on productive employees in the work-place. The study will be carried out in some flowing organizations in Port-Harcourt metropolis. Questionnaires will be used in collecting data from managers and their subordinates in the selected firms.
1.8    LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
There is bound to be problems in the course of carrying out any research. The ability of the researcher to minimize the problems will go a long way to improve the quality of the work. Also, time and financial constraints posed a lot of limitations to this study. Finally, the work is limited selected firms in Port Harcourt. This being so, care should be taken in generalizing the findings to firms outside the area of study.
1.9    DEFIMTION OF THE TERMS
Effect: The term effect can be seen as a change that somebody caused in somebody or something else. (According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 8Th edition).
Leadership Style: John F’. Mees (2005) defined leadership style as a right of a manager to assign duties to the employee i.e. the process and method of getting people to do what the leader wants.
Employee: An employee is simply refers to someone employed by an employer in an organization to work under another person known as the manager or the supervisor officer.
Performance: This is the accomplished or to do a certain piece of work to the degree which is intended according to the organizational goals.