The Relationship between Leadership Style and Staff Job Satisfaction at the College of Education, Addis Ababa University

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the department heads leadership
styles and the academic staff job satisfaction at Addis Ababa University in the College of
Education. Fifty five academic staff in the College of Education completed the Multifactor
Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Mohrman-Cooke-Mohrman Job Satisfaction Scale
(MCMJSS). The result indicated that department chairs in the college have shown all range
of leadership styles-transformational, transactional and laissez faire leadership styles.
Similarly, the staff self reported level of job satisfaction is above average. The study also
indicated that there is a significant relationship between transformational and laissez-faire
leadership styles of the department chairs and job satisfactions of the academic staff. On
the other hand, the relationship between transactional leadership style of the department
chairs and staff job satisfaction and the transformational leadership of the department chairs
and the intrinsic job satisfaction of the staff is not significant. The results of this study will
provide insights into the level of staff satisfaction and the leadership styles of the
department chairs at College of Education. It may also indicate the need to consider other
more situational variables in the study of leadership and job satisfaction.