Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to industries, particularly affecting workforce performance. This study looks at how transformational and transactional leadership styles affected worker performance during the pandemic in Sialkot's leather manufacturing industry. This study examines the impact of transactional and transformational leadership styles on worker performance in Sialkot's leather manufacturing sector during the pandemic. Data were collected through questionnaires from 103 full-time supervisors across different leather manufacturing organizations in Sialkot. A random sampling technique was used. The survey measured leadership styles, employee performance, and motivation. Data analysis assessed the direct effects of leadership styles on performance and the mediating role of employee motivation. Both transformational and transactional leadership styles were found to be insignificantly related to employee performance. However, employee motivation fully mediates the relationship between these leadership styles and worker performance. The study suggests that enhancing employee motivation is crucial for improving performance, rather than relying solely on transformational or transactional leadership styles. Leaders in the manufacturing sector should focus on strategies to boost motivation to effectively enhance worker performance during crises.