PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES IN EXERCISING TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN ARSI UNIVERSITY, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the practices and challenges in exercising transformational leadership in Arsi University. The study also explored the practice, challenges and strategies to be used to enhance the practice of transformational leadership. Descriptive research design along with mixed method was employed. A total of 344 respondents (34 and 310 leaders and staff respectively were participated in the study. Leaders and staff were selected through purposive and systematic random sampling respectively. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected, through questionnaires, from respondents (both leaders and staff), and an interview from leaders was also part of data collection for the study. Using SPSS version 22, quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and inferential statistics chi square while the qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis approach. Finding of the study revealed that the transformational leadership is rarely or not all practiced. leaders were not inspired towards vision achievement, consider the needs of the staff and not loyal and respect the staff. On the other hand, leaders face such challenges of how to inspire towards vision achievement, enhancing staff job satisfaction and building trust amongst the staff. It was thus concluded that leaders were not involve themselves in inspirational motivation, idealized influence ,intellectual stimulation and individual consideration components of transformational leadership. Based on these findings, Arsi university leaders, should have to focus on leadership development, inspiring and vision communication, enhancing staff job satisfaction and performing in a ways that staff build trust towards them