Influence Of Supportive And Directive Leadership Styles On Employee Job Satisfaction In Commercial Banks In Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of supportive and directive leadership style on employee job satisfaction in commercial banks in Kenya. The study adopted positivism research philosophy to guide the study and limited itself to descriptive correlational research design to analyze and provide responses to the research questions. The research design was preferred because it allows description and comparison of characteristics of populations based on data collected from samples through questionnaires. The target population of the study was 15,030 employees in all the 43 commercial banks licensed to operate in Kenya as of June 2018. Using stratified sampling technique, the study drew a sample size of 386 employees reporting to middle level managers. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, which included factor analysis, correlational analysis, chi-square, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Windows’ Microsoft excel programs.From the findings of multiple linear regression analysis, it was established that directive leadership style had a positive and significant relationship with employee job satisfaction, R2 = .228, F(1, 362) = 53.396, p < .05; β = .454, p < .05. The results from multiple linear regression analysis also showed that supportive leadership style positively and significantly predicted employee job satisfaction, R2 = .603, F(1, 366) = 278.269, p < .05; β = .716, p < .05. In addition, the study tested the moderating influence of environmental contingency factors and was confirmed that environmental contingency factors significantly moderated the relationship between path-goal leadership style and employee job satisfaction, R2=0.090, F(5,364) = 35.04, p < .05; β= 0.229, p<.05.The study makes a contribution to the literature of the influence of directive and supportive leadership styles from Kenyan commercial banks’ perspective and adds an impetus to employees, management and policymakers to address issues that are impeding employee job satisfaction. The future researchers should include all bank employees in their study to determine the influence of directive leadership style and supportive leadership style on employee job satisfaction.

The Impact of Leadership Styles on Government Construction Project Success: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

“…The theory explains that leaders that choose leadership styles that suit the project environment clarify the path stakeholders take to attain individual and project goals and remove roadblocks that stand in the way to achieve project goals (Northouse, 2016;House, 1996). Such leaders provide expected performance levels and means of achieving them and guide stakeholders to choose the best path for reaching their individual goals (Mwaisaka, 2019;House, 1996). Stakeholders are assigned specific duties for which they are held accountable (Babirye et al, 2022).…”

“…For example, periodic stakeholders' consultation and exchange of ideas at the project design and execution stage enables leaders to develop empathy and a sense of ownership among stakeholders that triggers their support and cooperation (Daniel, Maxwell, Mercy, and Tolulope, 2019). It also enhances stakeholders' connection to the project and inspires them to cooperate and work hard to ensure that they realize the set project (Mwaisaka, 2019).…”