Abstract:
Leadership seems to be the most operational tool of influencing people so that they strive
willingly and enthusiastically towards the accomplishment of goals. Leaders design motivation
systems not only to encourage employees to perform in the most effective way but also to draw
potential candidates. The key to create a conducive atmosphere in the school is an answer to the
question what really enhance teachers‟ performance. The main objective of this study is to
investigate the influence of leadership styles on teachers‟ performance in general secondary
schools of Gambella region, Ethiopia. To accomplish this purpose, the study employed a
descriptive design. The study was carried in ten general secondary schools of Gambella region. A
total of 190 individuals have participated in the study. Among them170 teachers were included as
a sample through simple random sampling technique especially lottery method. Additionally, 20
general secondary school principals were included through available sampling technique.
Questionnaire and interview were the main instruments of data collection. The instrument for the
study was a five-point likert type questionnaire. Principal leadership styles and teachers
performance were identified as the independent variables and as the dependent variable. The
questionnaires on communication, decision-making and delegation of duties were used to
describe the principal leadership styles. While lesson plan, assessing students and involve in cocurricular activities were to determine the teachers‟ performance with in the schools. The
analysis of the quantitative data was carried out by using frequency, percentages, mean, standard
deviation, one-way ANOVA, Post Hoc Test and Pearson correlation. The finding indicates that
there is a positive relationship between leadership styles and teachers‟ performance(r=0.980) the
relationship is significance (Sign=0.000 at 0.05 level). The findings revealed that the independent
variable (democratic was the most practiced leadership styles in general secondary schools of
Gambella region. Furthermore, the teachers‟ performance was found to be moderate in general
secondary schools. In general the findings supposed to conclude, that principals‟ leadership style
of general secondary schools in Gambella region had significance effects on decision-making,
communication and delegation to improve the level of teachers‟ performance and thus teachers
have not been performing to the expectation. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the
principals of general secondary schools should neat a mixture of autocratic and democratic styles
of leadership. While teachers‟ ideas and taught should be considered in decision-making about
the training criteria in their administration in order to enhance better performance amongst
teachers
