The Impact Of Leadership Styles In Combating Covid-19 At Work Right Through To Company Influenced Communities
Lazarus Farawadya
Graduate School of Business, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe.
Judith Mwenje
Graduate School of Business, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe.
Keywords: Transformational Leadership, Autocratic Leadership, LEADERSHIP STYLES, COMBATING COVID-19, COMPANY INFLUENCED COMMUNITIES
Abstract
This study aims fill in the gap on how leadership styles affect the COVID-19 pandemic management among companies whose workers stay at company compound settlements just like mines or farms and to relate the behaviour of the workers to the styles. The study adopted a descriptive case study design using questionnaires to management and subordinates across the departments and all organogram levels of Zimbabwe Platinum Mines’ Ngezi Concentrator business unit. In-depth interviews were carried out with leaders and subordinates who are members of some active departments or groups which are the Worker’s Committee, Safety Health Environment and Quality (SHEQ), Human Resources and Peer Educators of the same in orders to have in-depth understanding of the leadership styles in use and their effectiveness. The Purposive sampling method was used to identify respondents in the study of which literature indicates that it helps make a sample which is able to give valid information needed in the study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0, Descriptive Statistics was used to arrange and display research data in tables, charts and graphs for analysing. The findings established a significant influence of leadership styles in combating COVID-19 for the workplace and company homes. A mixture of styles dominated by the autocratic leadership style are being used by the Zimplats management of which most workers are not satisfied and are willing to pave the road together as a team- Management and subordinates using a transformational leadership style. The study also established that Zimplats was active on work and community disease prevention for malaria, sexual transmitted infections, HIV and Aids always but is now low on COVID-19 in the same community while very active at work. This study recommends transformational leadership as the best leadership style that saves to give the best results both on meeting the needs of the workers and the management hence the organisation as a whole. The study highlights training on leadership skills for different situations and constant engagement with its workers to get the best results in any type or form of disaster management while benchmarking with other successful companies