Abstract:

This paper unpacks the specific leadership practices that negatively impact the motivation of employees within Guyana’s public sector. It is written based on the doctoral thesis “An Investigation of Leadership Styles’ Influence on Employees in Guyana’s Public Sector – A Case Study,” which is authored by Sven Douglas. The thesis was done utilizing a mixed-methods approach; the study combined qualitative structured interviews with public sector leaders and quantitative surveys administered to a broader range of public servants. The analysis was done using statistical tools available for social sciences. These were Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Microsoft Excel. The findings revealed the majority of employees within Guyana’s public sector are managed using effective management practices. However, many of these employees are not benefiting from these effective practices. These areas that require improvement are inclusion in the decision-making processes, timely and constructive feedback and support, and commending efforts that provide positive reinforcement. It was recommended that managers and supervisors expand their management net to include all employees within their span of control to engage in those areas where they are failing. Methods of capturing demotivated employees were also recommended. These included regular staff meetings, workshops and think tanks where subordinates can share their ideas and opinions.

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