Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of leadership styles on performance of public and private hospitals in Kuwait. Critical to the study was a determination of the association between leadership style and performance. Performance measures examined include quality of care, employee satisfaction, and employee perception of leadership efficacy. Theoretical framework. The study processed from the theoretical assumption that the transformational leadership style is identified by respondents as associated with high quality of patient care, high levels of employee satisfaction, and proactive, visionary leadership that is capable of motivating and inspiring staff throughout the organization. Methodology. A cross-sectional design was used to present a snapshot of the relationship between leadership styles and hospital performance. The research method was a survey. Questionnaires were administered to a total of one hundred subjects in each of the four hospitals. Data were analyzed using standard descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics, including t-test and linear regression. Major findings. Public and private hospital managers and employees in Kuwait perceived that transformational leadership style of the president and heads of departments led to high levels of hospital clinical qualities, administrative qualities, and high level of employee satisfaction. Also employees who work for transformational leaders were more likely to feel that their leaders are effective than employees who work for transactional leaders. Finally, employees of private hospitals are more likely to perceive their leaders as transformational than employees in public hospitals. Conclusions and recommendations. Hospitals with more transformational leaders will exhibit higher quality, higher employee satisfaction, and higher employee perceptions of leadership efficacy. It is recommended that hospitals recruit leaders with transformational style, and also hold seminars to train current leaders in becoming more transformational. Transformational leadership styles or behaviors, along with a strong focus on quality assurance and the provision of appreciated work motivators appear to increase employee satisfaction.