The Influence of Leadership Style on Crew Performance and Job Satisfaction on Board Commercial Vessels

This study examines the influence of leadership style on crew performance and job satisfaction aboard commercial vessels. The maritime industry presents unique challenges where effective leadership is essential for ensuring operational efficiency, safety, and crew well-being. The objective of this research is to identify which leadership styles—transformational, transactional, or laissez-faire—have the most significant impact on crew members’ performance and overall job satisfaction. A quantitative approach was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires distributed to 120 seafarers working on various types of commercial ships. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis to assess the relationship between leadership style and both dependent variables. The findings reveal that transformational leadership has the strongest positive correlation with both crew performance and job satisfaction, while transactional leadership showed moderate effects, and laissez-faire leadership had a negative impact. These results highlight the importance of promoting transformational leadership practices in maritime operations to enhance productivity and improve crew morale. The study provides valuable insights for ship management companies and maritime training institutions in shaping leadership development programs tailored to the maritime environment.