THE INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPALS' LEADERSHIP STYLES ON TEACHERS' JOB PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OVIA NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

The study investigated the influence of principals' leadership styles on teachers' job performance in public senior secondary schools in Edo State. The population of the study covered the twenty-eight (28) public senior secondary schools in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state. Also, the study took into consideration the three hundred and thirty six (336) teachers in the same local government area. The sample size of seventy (70) teachers was selected using the simple random sampling technique. The study was based on McGregor's X and Y theories. The researcher constructed a questionnaire that was used to obtain responses from the respondents. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained through test-retest procedure to be 0.87 coefficient using Pearson's Product moment correlation coefficient. Data collected were analyzed using the mean ratings. The results of the analysis show that only the principals' democratic leadership style had a positive influence on teachers' job performance while the laissez-faire leadership style and the autocratic leadership style had a negative influence on teachers' job performance. xi It was concluded that though there are three leadership styles available to school principals, only the democratic leadership style positively influenced teachers' job performance in Ovia North East local government area of Edo state. The laissez-faire and autocratic leadership styles negatively influenced teachers’ job performance in the same local government area. This implies that the democratic leadership style is preferred by teachers and it should be adopted by principals in order to improve teachers’ job performance. Therefore, leadership styles are important for teachers’ job performance. Consequently, the researcher recommended among other things, that principals must take cognizance of their behavioural patterns and styles of leadership in order to enhance teachers' job performance. Specifically, the democratic leadership style was suggested