The Practice and Relationship of Servant Leadership and Trainers’ Performance: The Mediating Role of Trust in Leaders in Public Technique and Vocational Education Training Colleges of Amhara Region, Ethiopia,
Alebachew Lakie Desta, Matebe Tafere Gedifew
The purpose of this study was to investigate the practice and the relationship of servant leadership and trainers’ performance mediated by trust in leaders at TVET colleges of Amhara regional state. Mixed approach of explanatory sequential design was employed to address the purpose stated above. 629 trainers, research participants who filled the questionnaire, were selected using a multi stage cluster sampling technique. Interview was also conducted with purposely selected department heads and college deans. A partial least squares structural equation model was used to test the hypotheses. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics whereas the qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Accordingly, the computed mean values portrayed ‘moderate’ implementation of servant leadership, and trainers’ performance in sample Technique and Vocational Education Training colleges. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient revealed statistically significant and strong positive relationships between Servant leadership and Trainers’ Performance. The R2 of servant leadership showed statistically significant accounts on the variance of trainers’ performance. Servant leadership showed a direct effect on trainers’ performance. It was also found that trust in leaders complements the relationship between servant leadership and trainers’ performance. In this regard, the findings seemed to disclose the widespread theoretical shared understanding that trust is a foundation for leadership effectiveness and thereby improved organizational performance. The findings also seemed to imply the need for cultivating a servant leadership culture which is key to boost leadership trust and thereby promote organizational productivity.
Keywords: Servant leadership, Trust in leaders, Trainers’ performance
