CHAPTER ONE:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The importance of leadership in achieving optimum organizational performance cannot be overstated. Leadership and its style has been identified as one of the numerous factors that can enhance or impede employee productivity. The terms "leadership" and "leadership styles" have been used in a variety of contexts, with varying definitions. Ogbeidi (2012) defines leadership as a group of people who lead and direct the activities of a group toward a common goal. It refers to the ability to direct, organize, and lead a group. While Cole (2002) views leadership as a dynamic process at work in a group in which one individual influences the other group members to freely commit themselves to the achievement of group tasks or goals over a period of time and in a specific organizational context. According to Stogdill (1948), leadership style is a method and capability used by leaders to achieve organizational goals, and it has an impact on all organizational activities. According to Fiedler (1969), leadership style refers to a type of relationship in which someone uses his rights and methods to get a group of people to work together on a common goal. However, the most popular approach to explaining leaders' influence on organizational performance is transformational leadership style. We must distinguish transformational leadership from transactional leadership in order to comprehend it. Transactional leadership is based on an exchange process in which the leader gives out rewards for desired behavior and punishes/punishes for undesirable behavior. These rewards could include salary increases, promotions, and additional benefits, whereas the sanctions/punishments could include pay cuts, demotions, and terminations. Transformational leadership, on the other hand, goes beyond contract fulfillment to motivate employees/followers to go above and beyond, resulting in positive change in the employees or followers. Though, across cultures, several studies on transformational leadership style have shown a consistent relationship with various performance indicators (Rejas, Ponce, Almonte and Ponce,2006). However, in comparison to other parts of the world, Nigeria has had relatively few studies on the subject. The goal of this study is to investigate transformational leadership style and employee productivity in the Nigerian workplace, based on this consideration.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Within the organization, transformational leaders can influence employee creativity and bring about organizational innovation in a variety of ways. First, they define and structure the work, in which employees and leaders collaborate to determine goals, objectives, and problems, as well as provide solutions (Ogbeidi,2012). Second, organizational leaders are the key sources of organizational culture impacts. They have the responsibility of not only guiding, coaching, and supporting the workforce, but also of creating an organizational climate and culture that fosters employee productivity. However, transformative leadership styles are hampered by a variety of circumstances, all of which will be investigated in this research (Fieldler,1969).
1.3 Objective of the study
The primary objective of the study is as follows
1) To evaluate transformational leadership styles on employee productivity.
2) To examine the factors that limit employee productivity in an organization.