INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE ON EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION IN LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, IBADAN

Abstract This research project explores the influence of leadership styles on employee satisfaction at Lead City University, Ibadan. The primary aim of the study is to identify which leadership styles most significantly affect the morale, motivation, and overall job satisfaction of both academic and non-academic staff within a private university context. A descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. Data were gathered through the administration of structured questionnaires to a stratified sample of staff members drawn from the university’s workforce. The instrument used was tested for reliability and yielded a Cronbach’s Alpha value ranging from 0.79 to 0.85, indicating high internal consistency. The responses were analyzed using statistical tools such as correlation, regression, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to examine the relationships between leadership styles and employee satisfaction. The findings revealed that leadership styles have a statistically significant effect on employee satisfaction. Transformational and democratic leadership styles were associated with higher levels of satisfaction, while autocratic and laissez-faire styles demonstrated a negative correlation. Regression analysis showed that leadership style accounts for 9.5% of the variance in employee satisfaction (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of effective leadership in promoting employee well-being and enhancing organizational productivity. It recommends that university administrators adopt inclusive and motivational leadership approaches to foster a more engaged and satisfied workforce. Future research is encouraged to employ mixed-method approaches across multiple institutions to improve generalisability.