Leadership styles and implementation of strategy among non governmental organisations in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Abstract

Leadership style is important in ensuring that strategies are implemented successfully and desired outcomes are achieved. The objective of this study was to establish the leadership styles adopted and the influence of leadership styles on the implementation of strategy among NGOs in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The research targeted chief executive officers of various nongovernmental organizations as they are knowledgeable in matters of leadership styles adopted and strategy implementation issues and were therefore able to answer all the relevant questions. The study used primary data collected through questionnaires. The data was analyzed using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The study found that NGO’s in Nairobi City County, Kenya predominantly used transactional, servant, and situational and transformational leadership styles. Another key finding of the study was that leadership styles influence strategy implementation by influencing the way employees go about their day to day tasks. The study established that leadership styles are important in strategy implementation hence the need for organizations to incorporate various leadership styles. The study concluded that leadership styles had an influence on strategy implementation, as the evidence clearly showed that the organisational factors which were the NGO’s strategy implementation indicators had been greatly influenced by its leadership styles and poor leadership styles of managers and lack of understanding of strategy implementation were the major impediments of strategy implementation. The study recommends that organizations be aware of the appropriate leadership styles for their organizations as different leadership styles are relevant in different operating environment. The study also recommends that organizations ought to use the various leadership styles characteristics to influence strategy implementation with regard to goal achievement.