LEADERSHIP CLIMATE AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between leadership climate and employee performance in some selected Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study was to examine the relationship between the leadership climate and goal attainment and growth (measures of employee performance). The quantitative study sampled 280 employees of QSRs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria which included both senior and junior staff of the firms. The instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. A total of 280 questionnaires were retrieved and analysed. The Kendall’s tau-b Correlation Statistical Tool with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used to test the two hypotheses. The findings revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between leadership climate and goal attainment and growth respectively. The study concluded that management should have the interest of employees at heart so as to know their needs and methods of satisfying those needs. It was therefore recommended that: QSRs should employ positive leadership climates practices to achieve consistent and improved results in their employee performance, and management should develop new concept of authority, motivation and leadership. Most importantly, developing competence in emotional intelligence will afford them the opportunity to understand and manage human behaviour appropriately in the workplace.