Impact of Transformational Leadership on Employee Performance in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Abuja, Nigeria (Published)
This study examines the impact of transformational leadership on employee performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Abuja, Nigeria. It focuses on the dimensions of Inspirational Motivation (IM), Individualized Consideration (IC), and Intellectual Stimulation (IS). The study population included approximately 15,000 SMEs in Abuja, with a sample size of 450 determined using Yamane’s formula, which accounts for a 20% non-response rate. Using a survey research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regression analysis to assess the relationships between leadership dimensions and employee performance outcomes. The findings reveal that IM (B = .645, p < .001) and IC (B = .314, p < .001) significantly enhance employee performance, fostering engagement, retention, and productivity, while IS (B = .011, p = .469) had a minimal impact due to resource and institutional constraints. The study recommends prioritizing IM and IC to address immediate performance challenges and employee retention while progressively incorporating IS as a long-term strategy to promote innovation.
Keywords: Employee Performance, Transformational Leadership, individualized consideration, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, leadership strategies
The Nexus between Transformational Leadership and Team Effectiveness: A Conceptual Review (Published)
Transformational leaders motivate followers to achieve performance beyond expectations by transforming their attitudes, beliefs, and values as opposed to simply gaining compliance. Transformational leadership was conceptualized as being composed by four independent dimensions, known as the four “I”s : inspirational motivation (the sense of drive that the leader inspires in followers and that produces additional, goal-oriented energy for the group or organization), intellectual stimulation (the boost in creativity in followers that the leader stimulates by encouraging an independent and innovative way of thinking), idealized influence (exemplary behaviour of the leader that generates respect and trust and makes followers proud of their group and organization), and individualized consideration (perception that the leader genuinely cares for followers and their well-being). This paper examines the nexus between transformational leadership and team effectiveness.
Keywords: Transformational Leadership, idealized influence, individualized consideration, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, team effectiveness