Effect of Transformational Leadership on Employee Performance

The Case of East Wallaga Zone Public Sectors

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/IISTR.jscd.002031


Keywords:

Contingent Rewards, Employee Performance, Intellectual Stimulation, Public Sector, Transformational Leadership

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of transformational leadership on employee performance within public sector organizations in the East Wallaga Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Utilizing an explanatory and descriptive research design, the study employed a mixed-methods approach to collect data from a sample of 300 employees across various zonal sectors. Systematic sampling was used to ensure representativeness from a total population of 2,175. The data were analyzed using SPSS through descriptive statistics and inferential tools, including Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Findings reveal a significant positive correlation between transformational leadership dimensions and employee performance. Regression results indicated that leadership behaviors account for 83.7% of the variance in performance (R2=0.837). Notably, Contingent Reward (B=1.293) and Intellectual Stimulation (B=0.433) emerged as the most potent predictors. The study concludes that supervisors who employ idealized influence and inspirational motivation significantly enhance employee engagement. Recommendations include institutionalizing leadership development programs and refining merit-based recognition systems to sustain public sector efficiency.

Author Biographies

Gudata Abara, Wallaga University

is a researcher and Assistant professor affiliated with the Department of Management at Wallaga University in Nekemte, Oromia, Ethiopia. As the corresponding author of the study “Effect of Transformational Leadership on Employee Performance: The Case of East Wallaga Zone Public Sectors,” she focuses her work on management topics, with a particular emphasis on leadership styles and their impact on employee performance in Ethiopia’s public sector. Based in Nekemte, he communicates research findings and collaborates with colleagues to advance understanding of how transformational leadership influences organizational outcomes in public institutions. (email: gudataa@gmail.com).

Girma Tamiru Wakjira, Great Land College

is an alumna of Great Land College’s Postgraduate Studies in Nekemte, Oromia, Ethiopia. He is also the Head of East Wollega Zone Revenues Office, Oromia, Ethiopia. He co-authored the study examining transformational leadership and employee performance in the East Wallaga Zone public sector, contributing his expertise to postgraduate-level research on organizational leadership, management practices, and workforce performance. His work centers on exploring how leadership approaches affect performance and effectiveness within public organizations, and he operates from Nekemte, Ethiopia. (email: charakoo123@gmail.com).  

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Published

2026-03-01

How to Cite

Abara, G., & Wakjira, G. T. (2026). Effect of Transformational Leadership on Employee Performance: The Case of East Wallaga Zone Public Sectors. Journal of Social and Community Development, 3(01), 38–49. https://doi.org/10.56741/IISTR.jscd.002031

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 01 (2026): Journal of Social and Community Development

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Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Gudata Abara, Girma Tamiru Wakjira

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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