A client from the U.S. Army was interested in understanding how different leadership styles impacted key workforce outcomes, such as subordinate motivation, job satisfaction, and perceived efficiency. They faced challenges in maintaining consistent performance and morale, which led to the need to evaluate the effectiveness of various leadership approaches. To address this issue, we conducted a study using survey data collected through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ). We gathered responses from 100 officers from the U.S. Army and examined the effects of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles on workforce performance.
We hypothesized that transformational leadership would lead to higher levels of subordinate motivation and organizational efficiency than the other styles. Using multiple regression analysis, we explored how these leadership styles influenced job satisfaction, effort levels, and strategic implementation. One obstacle we faced was differentiating the overlapping effects of these leadership styles on various performance metrics. We refined our analytical models and validated the results through additional data checks to address this.
The findings revealed that adopting a transformational leadership style had the most significant positive effect on workforce outcomes. Officers who used this approach were better at fostering motivation and increasing job satisfaction. This study addressed the client’s initial concerns and provided a clear path for enhancing leadership capabilities, ultimately benefiting the Army’s organizational performance.