AN EVALUATION OF THE LEADERSHIP STYLE AND ITS EFFECT ON THE EMPLOYEES ATTITUDE

ABSTRACT

This study examines the influence of leadership styles on employee attitudes within Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu, focusing on the interplay between managerial behaviour and organizational outcomes. The research highlights how misconceptions and inadequate information about effective leadership approaches can result in adverse consequences, such as strike actions, the creation of informal groups, and diminished organizational cohesion. Data for the study was gathered through research questions and analyzed using tabular presentations and simple percentages. The findings reveal that leadership styles significantly affect employee attitudes, with inappropriate styles prompting negative reactions, such as informal group formations and uncooperative behaviors. Conversely, leadership practices that align organizational objectives with employee needs foster a cohesive work environment and enhance cooperation. Furthermore, unpopular leadership approaches are linked to disruptive outcomes, including strikes and resistance from employees. The study underscores the importance of adopting leadership styles that integrate employee aspirations into organizational policies, emphasizing participatory decision-making and motivational strategies. Additionally, it calls for the establishment of effective conflict resolution mechanisms to address potential disputes proactively. By prioritizing these approaches, organizations can enhance employee engagement, reduce resistance, and achieve sustainable operational success. This research contributes to the discourse on organizational leadership by providing actionable insights for fostering a productive and harmonious work environment.

       

                        TABLES OF CONTENT

Title page

Approval page

Acknowledgement

Dedication

Abstract

List of table

Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE:

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Statement of problem

Purpose of the study

Research questions

Significance of study

Scope of study

Limitations of the study

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The concept of leadership

Nature of leadership

Leadership as the process of management

The concept of power as it relates to leadership

Leadership styles

Apaches to leadership theory

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

Source of data collection

Procedure in gathering data

Population of the study

Data treatment technique

Research method used

Administration and retrieval of questionnaire

CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONOF DATA

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Summary of findings

Conclusion

Area of further study

Recommendation

Bibliography

Appendices

 

CHAPTER ONE

                                    INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

        Leadership is an area of managerial responsibility that is needed to develop plans, set objectives that help the organization cope with the future and to meet the demands of the environment.  The technical, economic, social and political characteristics of organization brings about continuing need for the innovation, creativity and imagination of a leader.  Leadership ability therefore is a valuable skill and those who possess or have it reap high rewards. The universal dearth of effective leaders causes organization to scout constantly for them and fosters development and better utilization of existing leadership.

        Leadership is the ability of an individual to influence others to work beyond ordinary level to achieve a goal or an objective.  Leadership is generally defined as influence, the art or process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly towards the  achievement of group goals.  To lead is to guide conduct and direct.  Leaders act t o help a group achieve objectives with maximum application of its capabilities.  They do not stand behind a group to prod; they place themselves before the group as to facilitate progress and inspire the group to accomplish organizational goals.

A pertinent example is that of the orchestra leader, whose function is to produce coordinated sound and correct tempo through integrated effort of the instrumentalist.

        Leadership has an effect on the performance of any organization.  It affects both the employees attitude and productivity of the organization.

Employees at all levels tend to evaluate the jobs and their organizations according to the kind of leadership behaviour their bosses exhibit, for a leader to lead effectively and efficiently he needs to understand his followers and the situation in t he organization.  The situational variably which influences the effectiveness of a followers and the task organizational climate power available to the leader and leader – follower relationship.

        Basically, people tend to follow those they see as a means of satisfying their needs.  The task of a leader is to encourage people to contribute effectively and willingly towards the accomplishment of enterprise goal, and to satisfy their own needs in the process.

The leader must always be aware of the human problems a as sensitivity towards the hopes and aspirations of those whom he supervised and a capacity for analysis of emotional forces that motivate their conduct, if this is not achieved the projects entrusted to him will not work out, no matter how often wages are raised.

        The survival of every organization depends on the performance of its leader.  He moves the group within the constrains of its maximum compatibilities to attain certain specified objectives.  He handles people, motivate them to work with them to do. In order not to loose him identity he takes his place before the group as he inspires the group to accomplish organizational objective.

In fact he is an architect of the performance, and hence tries to increase the moral of his employees always.  Research findings however suggests that leadership effectiveness is not depended on the source of power alone but with situational factors, climate or any particular style.

        From the foregoing, the question is that, how effective is the leadership style in bringing about a good reaction o employees towards organization, work and their environment.

It is the aim of the research to give due to the question.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        One of the most researchers and lest understood variables of the management process is leadership.

For centuries scholars have been speculating on the nature of leadership to adopt.  Only in the recent years have researchers conducted systematic investigations that have yielded useful insights into dimensions of leading.  Even with this, there is still an increasing difficulties to establish the fact that leaders achieve the desired result as and when is need.

        The prosperity, if not the survival of any organization depends on the performance of its leader and their styles.  The quality of leadership style shapes the behaviour of their employees at all levels tend to evaluate their job and their organization according to the kind of leadership behaviour their bosses exhibit.  Theoretically, in appropriate usage of some style result to workers negative attitude to work, absenteeism, conflict, unrest and confrontation. All these are reampant in most of the organization today.

        This research work aims at evaluating the type of leadership in existence and why they vary in their method of operation.  The work also intends to find out whether leaders recognize their position  in the organizational set of and if they do, to what extent do they exercise their leadership power and style to exhibit positive attitude from the employees for an increased productivity.  Some leadership styles in themselves are retrogressive and generate ill-feelings among employees.  Most leaders always think that all employees should be treated the same but each individual background, orientation education largely determine the best of leadership with which they could be led.

        On the whole the research will critically assess the reaction of employees to the styles used by their leaders.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

        Leadership roll is said to be very useful tool in the life of an organization which has influence on both employees attitude and organization’s productivity.  In spite of this fact leaders themselves seem to over-look its importance.  The purpose of this research therefore is to evaluate and have in depth knowledge of the leadership styles practiced in the organization selected and their effects on employees attitude.

This evaluation will be done by the following ways to:

1. Determine whether the type of styles used by the leaders in

the organization affect employees.

1. Determine the problems facing the terms of these leadership

styles.

1. Recommend possible solution to the problems identified.