Creating Satisfied Employees in Christian Higher Education: Research on Leadership Competencies

Abstract

This study investigated the leadership behaviors of presidents of Christian colleges and universities in North America. Data were collected from the chief financial administrator, the chief student affairs administrator, and the chief academic administrator on the independent variables of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles for the university president and the dependent variable of followers’ job satisfaction. The data on the leadership behaviors consisted of five transformational leadership factors, three transactional leadership factors, and a single laissez-faire leadership and were collected using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. This inquiry sought to discover to what degree transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and laissez-faire leadership are practiced by presidents at member colleges and universities of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Second, the study attempted to identify the combination of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership behaviors that are significant predictors of job satisfaction among followers. The research study has important implications for the field of leadership research and practitioners, particularly presidents of CCCU institutions and more generally for others in positions of leadership. Identifying specific leadership behaviors that predict followers’ satisfaction can reduce absenteeism and employee turnover, and is potentially beneficial for leaders who develop and utilize these leadership behaviors for the benefit of their ins.