Abstract:
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of leadership styles on job satisfaction in
Debre Berhan University. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were adopted. The
study employed a mixed approach. The questionnaires were distributed to 338 employees, and
316 were returned. Data analysis was done with the help of Stata 13 statistical software.
Descriptive statistics were employed to determine the type of leadership styles and level of
employees’ job satisfaction. Both Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression analyses
were used to examine the relationship between leadership styles and job satisfaction. The
effects of demographics were analyzed using a two-sample t-test and ANOVA. The descriptive
statistics revealed that the leadership behavior adopted in the University was more
transformational than transactional and laissez-faire, where employees entertained ambivalent
levels of job satisfaction. Pearson’s correlation analyses showed both transformational and
transactional leadership positively related to job satisfaction, while laissez-faire was negatively
correlated with job satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the positive influence of
the transformational leadership style on job satisfaction was more pronounced than
transactional, while laissez-faire leadership was more linked with dissatisfaction. Age, gender,
and marital status had no significant effect on job satisfaction whereas salary, work experience
and educational level significantly determined job satisfaction. To foster greater job
satisfaction, leaders should focus on intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration
than inspirational motivation of the transformational leadership behaviors, while put less
emphasis on laissez-faire leadership behavior.
