1. Home
  2. Vol 4, No 3 (2024)
  3. Iswanto

Servant Leadership and Personality as Predictors of Work Productivity: The Mediating Role of Work Motivation

Heri Iswanto, Muhamad Entang, Nancy Yusnita

Abstract


This study examines the effect of servant leadership and personality on employee work productivity, with work motivation as a mediating variable, among production employees of PT Restu Ibu Pusaka, Indonesia. The research was conducted in response to the declining productivity trends observed in the domestic body manufacturing industry, which faces both external market competition and internal workforce challenges. Using a quantitative associative approach, the study involved a sample of 134 employees selected from a population of 201 through the Slovin formula. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using path analysis to determine direct and indirect relationships among variables. The results indicate that both servant leadership and personality have a positive and significant direct effect on work motivation and productivity. Additionally, work motivation itself has a significant direct influence on employee productivity, while also acting as a mediating factor that strengthens the indirect effects of servant leadership and personality on productivity. These findings demonstrate that leaders who prioritize empathy, wisdom, and service-oriented behavior can enhance motivation and performance by aligning organizational goals with employee well-being. Furthermore, employees with strong personality traits—such as conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness—tend to exhibit higher motivation and productivity levels. The study underscores the importance of integrating servant leadership values and positive personality development within industrial organizations to sustain productivity and employee engagement.

Keywords


servant leadership; personality; work motivation; employee productivity; path analysis

References


D. K. Gupta and M. Prasad, “Employee Productivity and Organizational Competitiveness: Revisiting the Behavioral Dimension,” J. Workplace Management, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 145–158, 2023.

A. R. Sharma, “Measuring Work Productivity in Manufacturing Firms: A Human Capital Perspective,” Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 248, pp. 108–124, 2022.

J. R. Hackman and R. Oldham, Work Redesign and Motivation in Industrial Organizations, New York: Harper & Row, 2020.

E. S. Lee and C. J. Kim, “Leadership, Motivation, and Productivity: A Multilevel Analysis,” Front. Psychol., vol. 14, pp. 325–341, 2023.

R. K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness, New York: Paulist Press, 2020 (reprint).

L. Sendjaya and J. D. Sarros, “Servant Leadership and Work Engagement: The Role of Psychological Ownership,” J. Bus. Ethics, vol. 187, no. 4, pp. 855–870, 2023.

Y. Suchyadi, “Leadership and Work Discipline as Predictors of Teacher Performance: An Empirical Study,” J. Educ. Manage. Innov., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 33–42, 2023.

O. P. John and S. Srivastava, “The Big Five Trait Taxonomy and Personality Psychology,” Annu. Rev. Psychol., vol. 74, pp. 421–446, 2023.

N. R. Alvi and F. Ahmad, “Personality Traits and Employee Motivation: Evidence from Industrial Workers,” Int. J. Hum. Resour. Stud., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 88–102, 2023.

H. B. Khan and A. F. Ahmed, “Moderating Role of Personality in Leadership–Performance Relationship,” J. Organ. Behav. Manage., vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 211–227, 2022.

H. Iswanto, H. M. Entang, and N. Yusnita, “The Influence of Servant Leadership and Personality on Work Productivity Through Work Motivation,” J. Soc. Stud. Arts Humanit., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 68–75, 2024.

S. Sutanto, “Human Resource Strategy and Industrial Productivity in Indonesia,” Asian J. Management Sci., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 102–119, 2023.

R. M. Ryan and E. L. Deci, Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness, 2nd ed., New York: Guilford Press, 2020.

F. Herzberg, “Work and the Nature of Motivation Revisited,” J. Organizational Psychol., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 12–29, 2021.

C. E. Nugroho and W. Santoso, “Servant Leadership and Motivation: Pathways to Sustainable Productivity,” J. Leadership Studies, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 101–118, 2023.

J. Liden, R. Wayne, and C. Meuser, “Servant Leadership and Follower Performance: Integrating Psychological Empowerment,” J. Appl. Psychol., vol. 108, no. 1, pp. 33–49, 2023.

L. Sendjaya and J. D. Sarros, “Servant Leadership and Work Engagement: The Role of Psychological Ownership,” J. Bus. Ethics, vol. 187, no. 4, pp. 855–870, 2023.

Y. Suchyadi, “Leadership and Work Discipline as Predictors of Employee Performance,” J. Educ. Manage. Innov., vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 33–42, 2023.

A. R. Sharma, “Employee Productivity and Motivation in Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Evidence,” Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 248, pp. 108–124, 2022.

J. R. Hackman and R. Oldham, Work Redesign and Motivation in Industrial Organizations, New York: Harper & Row, 2020.

N. R. Alvi and F. Ahmad, “Personality Traits and Employee Motivation: Evidence from Industrial Workers,” Int. J. Hum. Resour. Stud., vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 88–102, 2023.

R. M. Ryan and E. L. Deci, Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness, 2nd ed., New York: Guilford Press, 2020.

D. K. Gupta and M. Prasad, “Work Motivation and Leadership Effectiveness: A Path Analysis Approach,” J. Workplace Management, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 145–158, 2023.

O. P. John and S. Srivastava, “The Big Five Trait Taxonomy and Personality Psychology,” Annu. Rev. Psychol., vol. 74, pp. 421–446, 2023.

E. Wibowo and S. Arifin, “Organizational Culture and Leadership Synergy in Public Sector Innovation,” J. Public Management Rev., vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 501–519, 2023.

J. W. Creswell and J. D. Creswell, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 6th ed., Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2023.

R. M. Baron and D. A. Kenny, “The Moderator–Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological Research,” J. Pers. Soc. Psychol., vol. 51, no. 6, pp. 1173–1182, 1986

R. K. Greenleaf, Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness, New York: Paulist Press, 2020 (reprint).

L. Sendjaya, J. D. Sarros, and J. R. Santoso, “Servant Leadership and Employee Engagement in Industrial Organizations,” J. Bus. Ethics, vol. 187, no. 4, pp. 855–870, 2023.

O. P. John, S. Srivastava, and M. P. Ashton, “The Role of Personality in Job Performance and Work Motivation: Revisiting the Big Five Traits,” Annu. Rev. Psychol., vol. 74, pp. 421–446, 2023.

A. R. Sharma, “Linking Motivation and Productivity in Industrial Firms: An Empirical Examination,” Int. J. Prod. Econ., vol. 248, pp. 108–124, 2022.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.33751/jssah.v4i3.7414

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.