ABSTRACT

Leadership is the most operational tool of influencing people so that they strive willingly and enthusiastically towards the accomplishment of organization’s goals. Leaders design motivation systems to encourage employees to perform in the most effective way as to draw potential candidates. The key to create a conducive atmosphere in the school is an answer to the questions what really enhance teachers’ performance. This study therefore intended to appraise the principal’s leadership styles as they affect teachers’ job performance in secondary schools of Aba South in Abia State. To accomplish its objective, the study employed a descriptive survey design. The study was carried out in eight (8) government secondary schools in Aba South, Abia State. Four research questions were posed and two null hypotheses guided the study. Twenty-eight (28) item structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data from a sample of one hundred (100) teachers randomly selected from a population of three hundred and nine (309) teachers from eight secondary schools in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. It was discovered during appraisal of leadership styles, that Democratic leadership style when employed by a principal enhances teachers’ job performance in the most effective and efficient way. The study was able to find out that most roles of the principal were poorly performed. This implies that principals have not fully accepted the message that what gives education its spirit and efficiency is their manner of leadership style. There are problems associated with principals’ leadership styles in secondary schools. The administrative work is rigorous and time consuming, other aspects ofleadership are neglected due to ignorance. Other problems are lack offund, inadequate facilities, poor motivation, poor remuneration, lack of co-operation by teachers, lack of in-service training among teachers etc. Based on the findings it was recommended that those who finance education should make funds available for equipping the schools, prompt and proper remuneration of teachers and principals; organizing of conferences, seminars, lectures and workshops to update both the principals’ and teachers’ profile to correspond with the current changes in the education sector and the society at large