LEADERSHIP AND EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE IN PORT HARCOURT ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated leadership and employee attitude in Port Harcourt electricity Distribution Company, Rivers state, Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design, in which five branches of the company were studied. The population of the study was 100, and the sample size was calculated to be 80 using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. The sample choosing was the stratified sampling method. A structured questionnaire and oral interview guide were the research instruments used for the study. Data collected were presented using chosen descriptive statistics in respect of the dependent and independent variables. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analyses were employed in analysing the data generated through the questionnaire. Simple linear regression, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and Chi-square tests were used to test the hypotheses. The major findings of the study were: that empowerment had significant effect on self efficacy in the Port Harcourt electricity distribution company, Rivers state (r = 0.869; t = 8.331; F = 12.428; p = 0.001< 0.05). Motivation positively affected job satisfaction as reported in the probability value (r = 0.89; p = 0.001 < 0.05). Teamwork had a significant positive relationship with employee performance in the Port Harcourt electricity distribution company, Rivers state (x2Calc = 23.73 > x2Tab = 3.70). The study concluded that effective and efficient implementation of leadership styles would not only result in effective leadership approach, development skills and encouragement of achievement, but would also apply to the situational leadership approach pending on the work environment the manager operated in Port Harcourt electricity distribution company, Rivers state. Based on the findings, the study recommended that there was a need for the energy companies to ensure that managers should empower the employees to grow to grow on the job and promoted at the appropriate time, Employees should maintain teamwork so as to achieve the organizational goals, and the leaders must be able to move from one leadership stlye to another in order to meet the changing needs in order to maintain employee performance.