Leadership styles and job satisfaction : A qualitative study among Nepalese employees living in Finland

Abstract

Leadership is currently a trendy topic as there is a rapid evolution and unprecedented challenges in global business. Therefore, to deal with these challenges an organization needs effective leadership that coordinates and motivates the employees to achieve the stated goals. The researcher had working experience in different organizations in Finland and was interested to know the effects of leadership styles in an organization. The aim of thesis was to find out desirable leadership styles, desirable working environments and methods to motivate employees at the working places among the Nepalese employees living in Finland.

The study approaches three main research questions, the first one was the features of good and bad leaders, the second was influence of leadership style in job satisfaction and the third was differences in leadership style in Nepal and Finland. The analysis was done based on Bass theory of transformational leadership style: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individualized consideration, and intellectual stimulation.

This empirical study was based on qualitative research method, specifically semi structured interview method. Interviewees were nine Nepalese employees working in Finland and those who had previous working experiences in Nepal. The results revealed that the interviewees preferred transformational leadership style that enables employee participation and development. The transformation leadership style enhanced the employees’ job satisfaction. The main differences in leadership style in Nepal and Finland were hierarchical system, inflexibility, and unethical practices performed more in Nepal compared to Finland.