The Influence of Leadership Style on Teacher Job Satisfaction

Abstract

The article examines the effects of principals’ leadership style (transformational or transactional), principals’ decision-making strategy (autocratic versus participative), and teachers’occupation perceptions on teacher satisfaction from the job. More specifically, it attempts to find out how much of the variation in teachers’job satisfaction can be attributed to their perceptions of their occupation, as compared to their perceptions about their principals’ leadership style and decision-making strategy. A quantitative questionnaire using Likert-type scales was administered to 930 teachers in Israeli schools, of whom 745 responded. Path analysis was used to explain teacher job satisfaction by the exogenous variables. The most salient finding was that teachers’occupation perceptions strongly affected their satisfaction. Principals’transformational leadership affected teachers’satisfaction both directly and indirectly through their occupation perceptions. Implications of the study are discussed in relation to supervisors and principals, as well as to policy makers at the government level.

Leadership Behaviour on Job Satisfaction in Malaysian National Secondary Schools: Motivation and Hygiene Satisfaction

“…Studies revealed that principals' leadership style employed by school directors had a profound impact on teachers' job satisfaction and school effectiveness and therefore, on the quality of education (Bogler, 2001). The leadership behaviours of enhancing high spirits among teachers, consulting teachers on important issues before going ahead, treating teacher as equals and putting teachers' suggestion into effect in the consideration dimension are foretelling of teachers' job satisfaction.…”

“…Several studies supported the effect of principal's leadership behaviours on teachers' job satisfaction (Dinham & Scott, 1998;Bogler, 2001;Griffith, 2004;Nguni et al, 2006;Cerit, 2009). Studies proved that the principal's leadership behaviour is one of the positive factors that have a direct correlation with teachers' job satisfaction (Bogler, 2001).…”

“…Studies proved that the principal's leadership behaviour is one of the positive factors that have a direct correlation with teachers' job satisfaction (Bogler, 2001). Considerable research has been carried out on the influence and impact of principal's leadership behaviour on teachers' job satisfaction (Griffith, 2004;Stockard & Lehman, 2004;Cerit, 2009).…”

“…Furthermore, studies also indicated that principal's decision-making style influences teachers' job satisfaction. Principal who encourages teachers to be involved in decision-making, positively influences on teachers' involvement and commitment to their teaching duties and classes (Bogler, 2001;Hui et al, 2013).…”

Benefits of Transformational Leadership in the Context of Education

“…After 1999, studies have been based on the examination of relationship between transformational leadership and numerous variables and showed that this style has positive impact on: satisfaction (Griffith, 2004;Leithwood & Jantzi, 2008;Bolger, 2001) motivation (Griffith, 2004;Kruger, Witziers & Sleegers, 2007), commitment (Geijsel, et. al., 2003;Yu, et.…”