Principal's Leadership Style: Impact on Student Motivation and Teacher Performance

Awaludin Awaludin; Fatmawati Fatmawati

doi:10.37641/jimkes.v13i4.3442

Authors

Awaludin Awaludin Universitas Tjut Nyak Dhien, Indonesia
Fatmawati Fatmawati Universitas Tjut Nyak Dhien, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v13i4.3442

Keywords:

Leadership Style, Principal, Student Motivation, Teacher Performance, Transformational

Abstract

This study examines the impact of principal leadership styles on student motivation and teacher performance in public secondary schools in Medan City. Using a quantitative approach with a survey method, this study involved 290 teachers and 350 students selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using multiple linear regression through SPSS software. Student motivation was rated very high, representing strong engagement and clear academic goals, while teacher performance was classified as very good, especially in planning and implementing learning. These results underscore the important role of inspirational, communicative, and participatory leadership in improving educational outcomes. This study suggests that principals who adopt these styles create a supportive climate that enhances student enthusiasm and teacher professionalism. These findings have significant power to develop leadership training programs to improve principal capacity, which ultimately improves the quality of education. This study highlights the need for adaptive leadership strategies tailored to the diverse school contexts in Medan, providing actionable insights for education policymakers and school administrators to foster effective learning environments.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abid, M. N., Siming, L., Chao, H., Amin, M., & Sarwer, S. (2025). Enhancing faculty teaching performance through constructive leadership with a mediating role of job satisfaction. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 334-345.

Alamanda, S., Setiawan, M., & Irawanto, D. W. (2022). Leadership styles on employee performance with work satisfaction and organizational commitment as intervening variables. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 20(1), 34-42.

Álamo, M., & Falla, D. (2023). Transformational leadership and its relationship with socio-emotional and moral competencies in pre-service teachers. Psychology, Society and Education, 15(1), 48–56.

Alzoraiki, M., Ahmad, A. R., Ateeq, A. A., Naji, G. M. A., Almaamari, Q., & Beshr, B. A. H. (2023). Impact of Teachers’ Commitment to the Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Sustainable Teaching Performance. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(5), 24-34.

Atikah, K., & Qomariah, N. (2020). The effect of leadership style and organizational culture and work motivation on lecturer performance. Jurnal Manajemen Dan Bisnis Indonesia, 6(2), 216-227.

Bass, B. M., & Avolio, B. J. (1993). Transformational leadership and organizational culture. Public Administration Quarterly 12(3), 112–121.

Caillier, J. G. (2020). Testing the influence of autocratic leadership, democratic leadership, and public service motivation on citizen ratings of an agency head’s performance. Public Performance & Management Review, 43(4), 918-941.

Caillier, J. G. (2020). Testing the influence of autocratic leadership, democratic leadership, and public service motivation on citizen ratings of an agency head’s performance. Public Performance and Management Review, 43(4), 918–941.

Cerrillo, R., López-Bueno, H., & Hidalgo, N. (2023). Democratic leadership practices for social justice. a qualitative study from the perspective of educational community. Revista Internacional de Educacion para la Justicia Social, 12(1), 141–160.

Chen, D., Ning, B., & Bos, W. (2022). Relationship between principal leadership style and student achievement: a comparative study between Germany and China. SAGE Open, 12(2), 35-49.

Even, U., & BenDavid-Hadar, I. (2025). Teachers’ perceptions of their school principal’s leadership style and improvement in their students’ performance in specialized schools for students with conduct disorders. Management in Education, 39(1), 5–18.

Glickman, C. D., Gordon, S. P., & Ross-Gordon, J. M. (2005). The basic guide to supervision and instructional leadership. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

Hariri, H., Monypenny, R., & Prideaux, M. (2014). Leadership styles and decision-making styles in an Indonesian school context. School Leadership and Management, 34(3), 284–298.

Harmendi, M., Lian, B., & Wardarita, R. (2021). Pengaruh gaya kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dan motivasi kerja terhadap kinerja guru. PRODU: Prokurasi Edukasi Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 2(2), 55-65.

Hartinah, S., Suharso, P., Umam, R., Syazali, M., Lestari, B. D., Roslina, R., & Jermsittiparsert, K. (2020). Teacher’s performance management: The role of principal’s leadership, work environment and motivation in Tegal City, Indonesia. Management Science Letters, 10(1), 235-246.

Hoy, W. K., & Miskel, C. G. (2014). Administrasi Pendidikan: teori, riset, dan praktik. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar.

Judge, T., & Robbins, S. (2013). Motivation concepts. Organizational Behavior 12(2), 201–238.

Kadiyono, A. L., Sulistiobudi, R. A., Haris, I., Wahab, M. K. A., Ramdani, I., Purwanto, A., Mufid, A., Muqtada, M. R., Gufron, M., Nuryansah, M., Ficayuma, L. A., Fahlevi, M., & Sumartiningsih, S. (2020). Develop leadership style model for indonesian teachers performance in education 4.0 era. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 11(9), 363–373.

Kamal, F., & Kesuma, T. A. R. P. (2024). Laissez-faire leadership: a comprehensive systematic review for effective education practices. Journal of Education and Learning, 18(4), 1460–1467.

Kusumo, B. H. (2024). The effect of leadership and compensation on employee performance. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 12(3), 825–832.

Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (2005). A review of transformational school leadership research 1996–2005. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 4(3), 177–199.

Lin, M. H., & Chuang, T. F. (2014). The effects of the leadership style on the learning motivation of students in elementary schools. Journal of Service Science and Management, 2014.

Maheshwari, G. (2022). Influence of teacher-perceived transformational and transactional school leadership on teachers’ job satisfaction and performance: A case of Vietnam. Leadership and Policy in Schools, 21(4), 876–890.

Majdina, N. I., Pratikno, B., & Tripena, A. (2024). Penentuan ukuran sampel menggunakan rumus bernoulli dan slovin: konsep dan aplikasinya. Jurnal Ilmiah Matematika Dan Pendidikan Matematika, 16(1), 73–84.

Mokretsova, L. A., Sychev, O. A., Bespalov, A. M., Vlasov, M. S., & Prudnikova, M. M. (2021). Teachers’ autonomous motivation and work engagement: The role of the principal’s democratic leadership style and psychological climate. Obrazovanie i Nauka, 23(9), 115–141.

Parashakti, R. D., & Setiawan, D. I. (2019). Gaya kepemimpinan dan motivasiterhadap kinerja karyawan pada Bank BJB cabang Tangerang. Jurnal Samudra Ekonomi Dan Bisnis, 10(1), 21-43.

Pedraja-Rejas, L., Rodríguez-Ponce, E., Araneda-Guirriman, C., & Rodríguez-Mardones, P. (2016). The relationship between the principal’s leadership style and students’ satisfaction: Evidence from chile. Revista de Pedagogia, 37(100), 269–287.

Peker, S., Inandi, Y., & Giliç, F. (2018). The relationship between leadership styles (autocratic and democratic) of school administrators and the mobbing teachers suffer. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 7(1), 150–164.

Priadana, M. S., & Sunarsi, D. (2021). Metode penelitian kuantitatif. Tangerang: Pascal Books.

Ramdhani, G., Patiro, S. P. S., & Kurniatun, T. C. (2024). The effect of servant leadership, human resource training and motivation on performance mediated by job satisfaction of employees of the malinau regency education office, North Kalimantan Province. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 12(6), 2241–2250.

Salsabila, N., Rachmawati, U., Puspita, A., Jasmine, S. F., El Zahra, A. F., & Rahmanjani, R. (2023). Analisis gaya kepemimpinan kepala sekolah dalam meningkatkan kinerja guru di SMK Wijaya Putra Surabaya. Khatulistiwa: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Sosial Humaniora, 3(2), 168–178.

Slavin, R. E. (2015). Cooperative learning in elementary schools. Education 43(1), 5–14.

Suparman, D., Rahayu, S. W., & Firmansyah, D. (2024). Leadership style and performance in higher education institutions (phei): the mediating role of organizational culture. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan, 12(4), 981-994.

Tazkiya, A. (2024). Pengaruh gaya kepemimpinan kepala madrasah terhadap motivasi kerja guru di mas yamisa soreang. Prosiding FRIMA (Festival Riset Ilmiah Manajemen Dan Akuntansi), 1(7), 1281-1294.

Tran, V. D., Huynh, T. T. V, & Le, T. A. D. (2023). Effects of principals’ leadership styles on teachers’ commitment in Vietnam. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 12(3), 1572–1581.

Wahyudin, W. (2018). Optimalisasi peran kepala sekolah dalam implementasi kurikulum 2013. Jurnal Kependidikan, 6(2), 249–265.

Wiyono, B. B. (2017). The effectiveness of the implementation of principals’ transformational leadership in motivating teachers to carry out their profession duties. International Journal of Learning, 3(2), 144–147.

Wuryania, E., Rodlib, A. F., Sutarsib, S., Dewib, N. N., & Arifb, D. (2021). Analysis of decision support system on situational leadership styles on work motivation and em-ployee performance. Management Science Letters, 11, 365-372.

Yukl, G., Mahsud, R., Hassan, S., & Prussia, G. E. (2013). An improved measure of ethical leadership. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 20(1), 38–48.

Zhao, Z., Saidin, K., & Jaafar, F. M. (2025). The influence of transformational leadership on teacher job performance. Indian Journal of Information Sources and Services, 15(1), 332–344.