Leadership styles and project implementation in non-profit organizations

This study examined the effect of leadership styles on project implementation at Back to the Bible Truth Evangelistic Mission (BBT) in Uganda, The study focused on autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire approaches. The study was guided by three specific objectives: to assess the effect of autocratic leadership, to establish the effect of democratic leadership, and to examine the effect of laissez-faire leadership on project implementation. A descriptive and correlational research design was adopted, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 103 staff members, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. The findings revealed a positive moderate significant associative relationship between Autocratic leadership and Project implementation at BBT mission (r = 0.412, Sig= 0.000). The adjusted R square value 0.159, implies that 15.9% of project implementation at BBT Mission, is influenced by Autocratic Leadership, the remaining 84.1% of project implementation being explained by other factors. This therefore means that there is a relationship between Autocratic leadership and Project implementation at BBT mission. The study concludes that autocratic leadership can improve efficiency, ensure accountability, and support the timely completion of tasks. However, this comes at the expense of employee morale, creativity, and meaningful participation. While autocratic practices are effective in environments requiring strict oversight and clear task direction, relying exclusively on this style may limit long-term project sustainability in mission-driven nonprofit organisations. Therefore, integrating task-focused control with participatory and inclusive leadership approaches is crucial for enhancing both project outcomes and staff engagement. The study recommends that BBT management balance autocratic authority with participatory practices to enhance staff motivation, creativity, and engagement.