Nexus between Charismatic Leadership Style and Academic Staff Performance: Mediating Effect of Knowledge Sharing

Abstract

This study examined the influence(s) of charismatic leadership style (CLS) on individual academic staff performance (IASP) in the Nigerian public universities via the instrumentality of knowledge sharing practices. The investigation was carried out on 510 academics at 13 public universities situated in north-central geo-political zone, Nigeria. The analysis of the perceptual responses was conducted deploying the partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings divulge that the mediating influence of knowledge sharing on the relationship between CLS and IASP is complete because the direct relationship between CLS and IASP recorded a non-significant effect. Along with the above, is the disclosure that CLS has a direct influence on knowledge sharing practices among academics and in turn, knowledge sharing practices directly shape the performance of academics. It is recommended that future studies should be conducted in a longitudinal manner to dig up how other issues could be incorporated into the influence of CLS on KS and in turn, on IASP. Hence, clarion calls are put across to future investigators to incorporate more unit of analysis, predictors and mediators or rather moderator(s) in the investigation of the relationship between CLS and IASP. Finally, the empirical, theoretical and practical implications were discussed.