The relationship between people-oriented leadership and work outcomes: Case of Palestinian higher education institutions

A positive approach towards completed tasks significantly affects job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Individuals feel comfortable and enthusiastic about their responsibilities when these principles are fulfilled. In the field of education, there is a specific emphasis on the job satisfaction of academics, since happy and satisfied employees experience positive work outcomes such as being more productive and feeling more committed to the organization. This research aims to: (a) reveal the relationship between work outcomes (such as job performance and organizational commitment) and people-oriented leadership styles (like supportive and participative leadership); and (b) examine the role of mediation of job satisfaction in these relationships. Survey data from 495 employees across various Palestinian universities were analysed using the Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. The study theoretically contributes by emphasizing organizational commitment's role in explaining the link between people-oriented leadership styles and significant work outcomes such as job satisfaction and performance. Practically, it underlines the importance of leaders adopting people-oriented leadership styles to enhance employees' organizational commitment by improving job performance and job satisfaction. In today's globalized and knowledge-driven economy, fostering positive work behaviors can increase organizational efficiency and competitiveness.