AN ASSESSMENT OF INFLUENCE OF LEADERSHIP STYLES ON PRODUCTIVITY OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WITHIN KANO METROPOLIS

Abstract

Exhibition of leadership traits on the construction site is a complex and often subjective issue. Construction site leadership influence project performance, profit margin, worker performance, and commitment. Achieving organizational goals lie with workers since their performance depends on the leadership behavior demonstrated. The aim of the study is to assess influence of leadership styles on productivity of construction workers within Kano metropolis in Nigeria based on these objectives: the identification of leadership styles and indicators of productivity of construction workers; determination of influence of leadership styles on the productivity of construction workers; and determination of effective leadership styles that will enhance the productivity of construction workers. A total of 140 questionnaires were distributed to respondents (i.e. site managers, project managers, human resource managers, foremen and artisans). A total of 100 valid questionnaires were retrieved from the survey which represents 71.4% of valid response rate and subsequently analysed using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study found that transactional leadership and supportive leadership styles have significant influence in the realization of the following indicators of construction workers’ productivity and organizational performance: Inspiration of employee into the higher levels of teamwork in the organization, Enhance the accomplishment of a mission, task and objective, Enhance organizational team work, Improvement of employee’s commitment among others. This is because transactional leadership and supportive leadership styles encourages obedience and implementation through rewards and punishments. Furthermore, these leadership styles hold the workers responsible by a way of delegating tasks, and receive results and supports an employee until the task’s completion. Adoption of transactional leadership and supportive leadership styles will significantly enhance the construction workers’ productivity and organizational performance towards achieving an optimum result at organizational and project levels. A way forward to adoption and effective application of transactional leadership and supportive leadership styles requires a joint effort between management and employees of an organization.