Leadership, job satisfaction and performance links in private education institutes of Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to get an insight into which form leadership either transactional leadership (TAL) or transformational leadership (TFL) is most effective in the educational sector of Pakistan and to determine the impact of each on the employee job satisfaction (EJS) and employee job performance (EJP). Given research site observation, appropriate leadership was essential to high-quality education in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Data are collected through a survey based on e-mail/interview from 189 employees working at private education institutes in Pakistan. Analysis methodology includes frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, paired samples t -test, Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis. Findings Only management by exception (MBE) and idealized influence (II), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS) and individualized consideration (IC) had significant positive association with both EJS and EJP. MBE had a positive significant effect on both EJS and EJP, while contingent rewards had no significant relation with EJS and weak positive significant association with EJP. Furthermore, II, IM, IS and IC had a positive significant impact on EJS and EJP. Research limitations/implications Respondents were from major private educational institutes in Islamabad and Lahore. The leadership style – TAL–TFL – was the sole variable to judge EJS/EJP. Multifaceted populations’ perspectives might enhance the attributes of TAL/TFL. This study might influence the authorities to adopt the right leadership style securing high-quality education system for both private and public education institutes in Pakistan. Originality/value The study filled the gap in the educational sector of Pakistan, where research works into leadership styles-satisfaction-performance links were few and far between.