The mediating role of job satisfaction in the linkage between leadership style, strategic communication, and employee performance: a systematic literature review on Malaysia government-linked companies

The actual function played by job satisfaction in mediating the dynamics between leadership styles and practices, strategic communication methods within an organisation, and job performance and productivity was examined in the current study. Particularly, this study performed a systematic literature review (SLR) through robust guidelines to delineate the interrelationships among the key variables under the context of Malaysian government-linked companies (GLCs). The results revealed statistical significance in the influences of two leadership styles, namely transactional and transformational, on the level of job satisfaction among Malaysian GLC employees. Simultaneously, GLC employees’ job performance and productivity were considerably shaped by how contented the employees were with the current job roles and responsibilities. Organisational leaders who practised the transformational style were also discovered to exert favourable and statistically profound impacts on Malaysian GLC workers’ job contentment. The findings suggested that leaders, who possessed and communicated transformational visions, offered highly individualised attention towards each employee while continuously inspiring workers to excel in their current job duties. Conversely, GLC workers’ job engagement degrees fluctuated when organisational leaders exhibited transactional practices. Meanwhile, the approaches utilised by a GLC in communicating organisational vision, missions, and objectives were pivotal. Adequate and strategic communication could assist in attaining an alignment with workers’ values, requirements, and goals. A high alignment level between personal and organisational values significantly and positively influenced the level of how employees were satisfied with their current jobs. The study outcomes collectively contributed valuable and actionable insights to Malaysian policymakers and GLC leaders. Relevant insights could effectively aid in boosting job performance, contentment, engagement, commitment, and productivity, while concurrently contributing to accomplishments in the stipulated organisational missions and objectives.