THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP STYLE AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IN ENHANCING JOB SATISFACTION MEDIATED BY TRUST IN LEADERSHIP: A CASE STUDY AT THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATION (SECOMS), TIMOR-LESTE
Keywords:
Leadership Style, Organizational Culture, Trust in Leadership, Job Satisfaction, Public Institutions, Secoms, Timor-LesteAbstract
This study examines the effects of leadership style and organizational culture on job satisfaction, with role of trust in leadership as the mediating variable in Secretariat of Social Communication (SECOMS) in Timor-Leste. The research addresses three gaps: limited empirical evidence from Timor-Leste’s public sector, the underexplored mediating role of trust in leadership, and the scarcity of studies in post-conflict public institutions. A quantitative explanatory design was employed, analyzing 100 valid responses using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). Results show that leadership style significantly influences organizational culture and job satisfaction. In addition, Organizational culture has a positive but non-significant effect on job satisfaction while Trust in leadership significantly predicts organizational culture and job satisfaction. In relation to the role of trust as mediating variable, it partially mediates the relationships between leadership style, organizational culture, and job satisfaction. Theoretically, the study highlights trust as a key psychological and organizational mechanism linking leadership practices to employee outcomes in post-conflict public institutions. Empirically, it provides new evidence from Timor-Leste, an underrepresented context in leadership and public administration research. Practically, the findings emphasize the importance of cultivating trustworthy, participatory, and consistent leadership to enhance job satisfaction and support civil service reform. This study offers guidance for policymakers and managers seeking to improve organizational effectiveness through leadership and trust-building strategies.
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