The Chancellor's Leadership Style in Improving Lecturer Performance at Muhammadiyah University of Kotabumi

Abstract

One indicator of a good university is the performance of its lecturers, which reflects the implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education: teaching, research, and community service. Lecturer performance improvement requires leadership support, particularly from the Chancellor, who plays a key role in providing direction, motivation, and evaluation. This study aims to analyze the leadership style of the Chancellor of Muhammadiyah University of Kotabumi in motivating, guiding, and evaluating lecturer performance. Using a qualitative approach with a case study design, data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. The findings show that the Chancellor uses a bureaucratic leadership style, providing direct motivation through verbal communication in meetings, university events, and coordination forums both explicitly (instructive) and implicitly (suggestive). The Chancellor’s efforts to improve lecturer performance are implemented through work programs assigned to structural leaders, involving unit heads across the university. These efforts focus on supporting lecturer roles in the Tridharma, including Al-Islam Kemuhammadiyahan as a core component. Lecturer performance evaluation is conducted through coordination with related leaders using formal performance appraisal tools.