THE ROLE OF FEMALE LEADERSHIP IN ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF ROBAN STORES, ENUGU STATE.

This study examined the role of female leadership in organizational performance, focusing on Roban Stores in Enugu, Nigeria. The research aimed to explore the leadership styles adopted by female leaders, their impact on employee performance and customer satisfaction, the challenges they faced, and their overall contribution to organizational success. A survey design was employed, utilizing a self-structured questionnaire to gather primary data from 60 respondents, including female leaders and employees from various departments at Roban Stores. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, revealing key findings. The study found that female leaders at Roban Stores predominantly adopted participatory and motivating leadership styles, which fostered job satisfaction and teamwork. Their leadership significantly enhanced both employee performance and customer satisfaction. However, female leaders faced challenges such as work-life conflicts, gender bias, and limited managerial support. Despite these challenges, female leadership positively influenced the overall organizational performance of Roban Stores, contributing to growth, service delivery, and employee morale. The study concluded that female leadership played a crucial role in enhancing organizational performance, but systemic challenges needed to be addressed to maximize its impact. Recommendations for improving female leadership effectiveness included promoting inclusive leadership development, strengthening work-life balance support, addressing gender biases, enhancing managerial support, and encouraging open feedback and decision-making. The study suggested further research into comparative leadership styles, organizational policies, and the role of emotional intelligence in female leadership effectiveness.