Abstract:
This study was conducted in two public higher educational institutions (Bonga TVET College
and Bonga College of teacher education) in Kaffa Zone. The main purpose of this study is to
examine the effects of leadership style on employee performance. The research categorized
under Descriptive and explanatory research design and mixed (quantitative and qualitative
research methodology) was appropriately used in the study because; mainly primary data was
used and collected through questionnaire and interview from the academic and administrative
staff of both colleges. To do so, the researcher selected 197 employees from the total employees
of 406 as a sample based on simple random sampling technique using lottery method. However,
actually, the data was collected only from 180 employees. After the data was collected, it was
analyzed in qualitative and quantitative method of data analysis through the use of SPSS version
20 and the statistical analysis was made such as descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and
reliability and validity tests. The findings of the study resulted, the democratic leadership style
was not highly practiced in the both college, authoritative leadership was practiced and also the
laissez-faire leadership did not exist. The researcher concluded that: there was high confusion in
the practice of leadership since most leaders were autocrat yet employees were practicing
democratic leadership. The researcher recommends that: empowerment was needed through
developing teams and measure of power and authority to teams and should reduce the
dominance of authoritative leader ship by giving training that provides professionalism and
transparency.
