The
Influence of Transformasional Leadership, Servant Leadership, and
Organizational Climate on Job Satisfaction and Work Performance in Vocational
High Schools in East Java Province
This study aims to analyze the influence of
transformational leadership, servant leadership, and organizational climate on
employee performance through job satisfaction as a mediating variable. The
research adopts a quantitative approach using a survey method, in which a
7-point Likert scale questionnaire serves as the primary instrument for data
collection. The respondents of this study are principals of public and private
Vocational High Schools (SMK) across the East Java Province, with a population
of 2,161 schools spread across 38 regencies and cities.
The
sampling technique used was purposive sampling, ensuring representation from various regions and school types. A total
of 160 school principals were selected as the sample. The collected data were
analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling
(PLS-SEM) to examine both direct and
indirect relationships among the variables.
The
results indicate that transformational leadership has a positive effect on job
satisfaction, which in turn positively contributes to employee performance.
Servant leadership also shows a significant positive influence on both job
satisfaction and performance. Furthermore, organizational climate is proven to
positively affect job satisfaction and further enhances employee performance.
However, transformational leadership does not exhibit a direct positive
influence on performance; instead, a significant negative relationship was
found, suggesting that this leadership style may be less compatible with the
vocational school context, which emphasizes practical skills and short-term
achievements.
Based on
these findings, it is recommended that school management prioritize the
development of servant leadership and the creation of a supportive
organizational climate to enhance job satisfaction and performance. School
principals are also advised to adopt more practical and adaptive leadership
approaches that align with the technical and outcome-oriented nature of
vocational education. This study contributes valuable insights into the role of
leadership and organizational climate in improving school principals'
performance through the mediating mechanism of job satisfaction within the
vocational education environment.
Keywords :
Transformational Leadership, Servant Leadership, Organizational Climate, Job
Satisfaction, Performance.