The Influence of Competence and Leadership Style on Performance Through Job Satisfaction of Educational Staff at HKBP Nommensen University Medan

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FORMOSA NEWS

Medan- The performance of educational support staff at HKBP Nommensen University Medan is significantly influenced by competence and leadership style, with job satisfaction acting as a key reinforcing factor. These findings were reported by Maris Stella Sitorus, Yeni Absah, and Parapat Gultom from Universitas Sumatera Utara in a study published in January 2026 in the International Journal of Business and Applied Economics (IJBAE).

This study is particularly important because the quality of administrative and non-academic services in higher education institutions depends heavily on the performance of educational support staff. Internal data from HKBP Nommensen University indicate fluctuations and a decline in performance quality over recent years, highlighting the need for a deeper examination of the factors shaping staff performance.

Background

Amid globalization and rapid technological advancement, universities are required not only to excel academically but also to maintain professional and efficient support systems. Educational support staff play a strategic role in ensuring the smooth delivery of academic services. However, individual competence alone, without effective leadership support, may fail to produce optimal performance.

Previous studies have also reported mixed results regarding the influence of competence and leadership on performance. This gap opens space for job satisfaction to be examined as a more comprehensive explanatory factor.

Research Methodology

The study involved 153 educational support staff members at HKBP Nommensen University Medan. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using modern statistical approaches to examine both direct and indirect relationships among competence, leadership style, job satisfaction, and performance.

Key Findings

The analysis highlights several important points:

• Competence enhances job satisfaction and performance

Staff members with strong problem-solving and adaptability skills tend to perform more effectively.

• Participative leadership has a significant impact

Leadership styles that involve staff in decision-making and foster trust significantly improve motivation and work performance.

• Job satisfaction serves as a critical reinforcing factor

Job satisfaction acts as a mediating variable that strengthens the influence of competence and leadership on performance.

• The research model explains 71.1% of performance variation

This indicates that the majority of educational staff performance can be explained by these three key factors.

Implications and Impact

These findings send a strong message to university management. Performance improvement cannot rely solely on technical training but must be supported by fair, transparent, and participative leadership practices. In addition, career development systems, continuous training, and performance-based rewards are essential for maintaining job satisfaction.

According to the authors, job satisfaction functions as a “psychological engine” that transforms competence and leadership effectiveness into tangible performance outcomes in the workplace.

Author Profiles

• Maris Stella Sitorus, S.E., M.Si. -  Universitas Sumatera Utara.
• Dr. Yeni Absah, M.Si. -  Universitas Sumatera Utara.
• Dr. Parapat Gultom, M.Si. -  Universitas Sumatera Utara.

Research Source

Sitorus, M. S., Absah, Y., & Gultom, P. (2026).
The Influence of Competence and Leadership Style on Performance Through Job Satisfaction of Educational Staff at HKBP Nommensen University Medan.
International Journal of Business and Applied Economics (IJBAE), Vol. 5 No. 1.
DOI: 10.55927/ijbae.v5i1.555
URL: https://nblformosapublisher.org/index.php/ijbae