The Effect of Leadership Styles on Workers’ Productivity

The Effect of Leadership Styles on Workers’ Productivity

Abstract of The Effect of Leadership Styles on Workers’ Productivity

This research work tends to examine the effect of leadership styles on workers’ productivity with special reference to Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

Survey design was adopted and research questionnaire was used to gather data from respondents.

A sample of one hundred (100) was drawn from the population with the simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire was administered to the sampled staff of Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

Three research hypotheses was formulated and tested with the use of Chi-square technique.

The analysis resulted into rejecting the three null hypotheses and accepting the alternate, thereby concluding that there is relationship between leadership style and productivity; there is relationship between leadership style and labour turnover and there is relationship between leadership style and subordinate behaviours.

Suitable recommendations were proffered the management of Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

Chapter One of The Effect of Leadership Styles on Workers’ Productivity

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Two related concepts that are often used synonymously are ‘leader’ and ‘manager’. Allowing some fine conceptual details, a leader concentrates on providing the vision with which a group is led into achieving agreed objectives, and a manager is simply someone who implements a vision handed down to him using agreed or ingenuous methods.  Thus, leadership is proactive whereas management is executing and at best reactive.  The implication of this subtle distinction is that managers must acquire and utilize leadership skills for effectiveness.

Leaders are individuals who have authority over others and are responsible for guiding their actions.  These are people who engage in the traditional management practices such as planning, organizing, decision-making and controlling.  Leaders are evaluated according to their ability to achieve organizational goals.  Regardless of environmental constraints, they are praised for successes and blamed for failures.

The managerial roles set include all the significant other persons who must relate to the manager in the course of carrying out the business of managing.  The set us a very large one comprising of superiors, subordinates, peers, visitors, clients, and the entire society at large.

Leadership is one aspect of the leader’s role that concerns the ability to personally influence people in his role set to accomplish specific tasks.  Fajana (2002).

The ability of an individual to influence the thoughts and behaviour of others is recognised as leadership.  A leader’s  position may be formal or informal, depending on the structure and nature of the group. Cole (1993).

Various propositions and theories of leadership abound. These include:

Traits Approach, that asserts that the ability to lead is an innate characteristics and the personally traits exhibited include initiative, decisiveness, self-assurance, assertiveness, intelligence, dressing, statue and physical appearance.

Human relations approach, which suggests that leadership ability, depends, not so much on innate characteristics, but on the behaviour of the leader.

Others are the X and Y theory, the contingency approach and path-goal theory.  In addition to the theories, leadership can be approached using different styles. Hackett (1979) listed the styles of leadership as autocratic, democratic, and lasses-faire.  The autocratic leader closely supervises the subordinates by issuing precise and detailed instructions to cover every task undertaken.  The democratic leader communicates and consults with subordinates or groups more often, with group members actively participating in decision making in the laissez faire approach, subordinate are left to take decisions they deem necessary to complete their work.

The need for effective leadership pervades the shoddy manner of performances in both the private and public sectors of the Nigerian Economy.

The well-known saying that “if the head is bad the whole body would be affected” states clearly that the leadership of an organization is very important.

Ineffective leadership has been the bane of the Nigerian economic and socio-political systems.  These problems have led to the poor performance and low productivity among Nigerian workers.  Thus, the Federal Military Government under Buhari/Idiagbon regime declared a war against indiscipline as it relates to work ethics.

In Nigeria, leadership problems may have developed from societal poverty, occupational or professional arrogance and also lack of knowledge of what is really required of you. Observations have shown that most corporate failures are attributable to poor leadership and this is evident in all aspects of life that is education, religion and other sectors of national life. (Ubeku, 2000)

Therefore, scarcity of proper leadership in Nigeria refers to the scarcity of effective and dynamic people who are willing to assume significant leadership roles in our society and get jobs done effectively and efficiently.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In Nigeria, a lot of negative consequences are derived from the application of wrong leadership styles.  Notable among them are high labour turnovers, absenteeism, low productivity and interpersonal conflict.  If these problems are left unchecked, a lot of damages could be done, not only to the corporate body, but also to the economy of the nation as a whole.

The present research is designed to contribute to a determination of the nature and effects of leadership styles on Nigerian companies with Cadbury Nigeria Plc as a case study.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The purpose of this study is as follows:

1.         To determine whether leadership styles affect workers’ productivity in Cadbury Nigeria Plc

2.         To determine how leadership styles affects industrial relations in Cadbury Nigeria Plc.

3.         To determine and compare the managerial leadership styles and their impact on employee behaviour and productivity.

4.         To appraise if leadership styles and patterns affect the rate of absenteeism and labour turnover.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Is there any relationship between leadership styles and productivity?

Does leadership pattern relate to performance of workers?

Is there any relationship between leadership style and labour turnover?

Is there any relationship between leadership behaviour and subordinates’ behaviour?

Is there any ideal leadership style?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

1.         H0:      There is no relationship between leadership style and productivity

H1:      There is relationship between leadership style and productivity

2.         H0:      There is no relationship between leadership style and labour turnover.

H1:      There is relationship between leadership style and labour turnover.

3.         H0:      There is no relationship between leadership style and subordinate

behaviours.

H1:      There is relationship between leadership style and subordinate behaviours.