Effect of leadership styles on employee performance: The case of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital

Abstract

The poor attitudes of Hospital staff in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital has sought to question the leadership abilities and styles of the hospital management. Leadership abilities to influence their followers are often linked to the type of style they adopt. This study aimed at assessing the effect of leadership styles on employee performance in Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital. The study was both qualitative and quantitative and adopted the survey and cross-sectional designs. The study used 83 respondents and these respondents were randomly selected using the lottery method. Questionnaires were used to collect data descriptive statistics such as mean, percentages as well as correlation and regression statistical tools were used to analyse the data. It emerged from the study that the democratic, autocratic as well as laissez-faire leadership styles were practiced in the CCMH. It was revealed that democratic leadership style statistically and empirically affects employee performance. Again, it was found that autocratic leadership style positively affects employee performance in the hospital. Also, the study revealed that there was employee performance is influenced and affected by laissez-faire leadership style. The study, therefore, concluded that leadership styles practiced at the CCMH affect employees’ performance. It is recommended that supervisors apply the democratic, autocratic and laissez-faire leadership styles depending on the prevailing situations since different situations demand different leadership approaches.