LEADERSHIP STYLES IN THE PRIVATE SECTORS OF SABAH IN RELATION TO JOB SATISFACTION MODERATED BY EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT

Abstract

Job satisfaction and leadership styles have long been recognised as interconnected themes in organisational research. In the context of Sabah’s private sector, understanding how leadership practices influence employees’ workplace experiences is particularly important, given the region’s evolving economic and cultural environment. The present article explores the relationships between transformational, transactional, and visionary leadership styles and job satisfaction, while also examining the moderating role of employee commitment. A quantitative survey was conducted among 170 private sector employees using validated questionnaires. Data were analysed with SPSS 27.0 to assess correlations, regression, and moderation effects. The findings show that all three leadership styles positively relate to job satisfaction, with visionary leadership demonstrating the strongest association with employee commitment. These results indicate that leadership effectiveness depends not only on style but also on the degree of workforce commitment. This study contributes to the broader literature by providing empirical evidence from Sabah and suggesting that organisations can enhance satisfaction and retention by integrating diverse leadership practices with strategies that foster employee commitment.