Transformational leadership style, motivation and academics' job performance at public universities, South-West Nigeria

Currently, in Nigeria, the concern on the job performance of the public university academics is increasing resulted from severe academics’ job retrenchment crisis due to the wavering and discouraging current economic condition. The problem certainly threatens their job guarantee that impede them to effectively perform their work. Besides, ineffective leadership with low motivation factors causing reluctance to perform their work. Nevertheless, previous studies revealed transformational leadership and appropriate motivation increase good job performance. Therefore, convincing motivation element and transformational leadership are two essential boosters to increase academics’ job performance. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between transformational leadership, motivation and academics’ job performance as well as gauging motivation variable as an important mediator on the relationship between transformational leadership and academics’ job performance. A quantitative method was used via a survey. Data was collected from 515 academics through simple random sampling technique from six public universities in six geopolitical zones at southwest Nigeria. Data were analyzed using SPSS and PLS-SEM statistical software. Four hypotheses were tested examining the extent of correlation, prediction and mediation influence in the research framework. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between transformational leadership, motivation and academics job performance, whilst transformational leadership is substantiated as a significant predictor of academic’s job performance. In fact, motivation is confirmed as a significant mediator on the relationship between transformational leadership and academics’ job performance. Overall, results have supported previous findings on the relationship between these variables and the importance of motivation in assisting transformational leadership to enhance academics’ job performance. Theoretical implications, methodologies and practicalities are discussed and in line with the global industries requirements and implement program development leadership for university academics. Therefore, the university sector should ensure effective transformational leadership in order to improve academics' motivation that will enhance their job performance.