Abstract

• This study was conducted with the objectives of investigating the leadership styles practiced by national leaders (NLs) at SSEAYP; how different leadership styles influence group engagement of participating youths (PYs) and how that relationship was moderated by leader-member-exchange relation. As SSEAYP is one of the most successful youth program in the world and it is very important to build trust, friendship, cross-cultural mutual understanding, and future cooperation among ASEAN and Japan, it is very important to select well representing youth ambassadors of the country. The findings from this research would not only be able to use in the selection and training of future NLs, and PYs, it can also be applied in industry setting. Data was collected from 104 PYs from ASEAN and Japan from 43rd SSEAYP. Google form questionnaire was sent to over 300 participants to answer online. Two step cluster analysis was used to classify different leadership profile and regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of leadership styles on LMX and engagement. From the results, 4 distinct profiles of leaders among 43rd SSEAYP came out such as very high transformational, high transactional, and low transformational style (Cluster 1); very high transformational, moderate transactional, and very low laissez-faire style (Cluster 2); low transformational, low transactional and low laissez-faire style (Cluster 4); and medium transformational, low transactional, very low laissez-faire style (Cluster 5). It was found that Cluster 1 leaders can create a strong leader-member exchange relationship and lead to highly engaged team. LMX serves only a partial mediator. Cluster 2 leaders have positive significant effect on employee engagement and LMX but to a lesser extent than Cluster 1 leaders. Cluster 4 leaders can generate very negative engagement and relationship with PYs. For Cluster 5 leadership, their engagement and LMX is not significantly influenced by this type of leadership style. LMX either does not mediate for this relationship as well. Group engagement is of great importance for the PYs to generate favorable outcomes to the team to create better image of the country as highly cooperative, engaging, and outperforming delegates among ASEAN and Japan. The findings suggested that the government should consider great care in selecting and training of NLs and PYs for the program because it is held every year and need top, and talented youths who will raise the flag high among international community. It can also be contributed to business world where managers need to nurture their leadership styles and take great care of forming a good relationship with subordinates to elicit employee engagement. Leaders should take care of their way of interacting with subordinates and they should be equipped with proper knowledge, skills and attitude which would be used in different situations with different people. This study also warned the importance of relationship that a leader should build with his or her subordinates in order to create more engaging workplace.