The Effect of Principal Authoritarian Leadership Management on Teacher Performance and Comfort in School

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FORMOSA NEWS

Principal authoritarian leadership presents its own dilemma because on one hand, it can strengthen discipline and organizational order, but on the other hand, it risks reducing teacher work motivation and comfort. These findings were revealed by Muhammad Yamin from STIT Al-Falah Rimbo Bujang Tebo Jambi in research published in August 2026. This research is vital to understanding how managerial leadership governance in schools can affect the quality of human resources and the overall learning process.

In practice, the principal holds a strategic role as the manager of all educational resources to achieve school goals effectively. However, a leadership style that positions the principal as the sole center of power and applies one-way communication often limits teachers' scope and participation in policy-making.

This study used a qualitative approach with a library research method. Data were collected by reviewing various books, national and international scientific journals, and official documents related to educational leadership, school management, organizational behavior, and teacher performance.

The literature analysis yielded several key findings regarding the impact of authoritarian leadership:

• Positive Aspects: Authoritarian leadership is effective in increasing work discipline, compliance with school rules, accelerating decision-making, and creating organizational order, especially when facing emergency situations.
• Negative Aspects: The continuous application of this leadership style impacts the decline of work motivation, limited teacher creativity in the learning process, low participation in policy-making, increased psychological stress, and decreased job satisfaction.

According to Muhammad Yamin from STIT Al-Falah Rimbo Bujang Tebo Jambi, school principals are advised to implement adaptive leadership by combining assertiveness in managerial functions with participatory communication. This approach is deemed crucial so that teachers' optimal performance is maintained while creating a conducive, harmonious school work environment that empowers teachers as the primary assets of education.

Author Profile

• Muhammad Yamin – Researcher and academic from STIT Al-Falah Rimbo Bujang Tebo Jambi, Indonesia, with expertise in educational management, school leadership, and organizational behavior.

Research Source

• Article Title: The Effect of Principal Authoritarian Leadership Management on Teacher Performance and Comfort in School
• Journal Name: International Journal of Education and Life Sciences (IJELS), Vol. 4, No. 8
• Publication Year: August 2026
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijels.v4i8.63