The Impact of Leadership Characteristics of Small and Medium-Sized Business Managers on Organizational Effectiveness

초록

Purpose: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) account for 90% of global businesses and provide over 50% of employment. Their effectiveness relies on leadership that shapes culture, employee behavior, and performance. SMEs face resources and structural constraints, making leadership particularly critical. This study investigates how leadership characteristics influence SME effectiveness, aiming to connect theory with practice in contemporary management. Research design, data and methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Searches were performed across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, restricted to peer-reviewed studies from 2010–2025. Inclusion criteria targeted empirical research on SME leadership and organizational outcomes. From 1,156 initial results, 17 studies were selected for full analysis. Data extraction focused on leadership styles, mechanisms, and firm performance. Results: Four consistent impacts were identified: transformational leadership enhances employee motivation, satisfaction, and performance; digital leadership enables innovation and adaptation in disruptive contexts; adaptive leadership supports resilience and flexibility; and servant leadership fosters employee development and citizenship behaviors. Conclusions: Effective SME leadership requires integrating transformational, digital, adaptive, and servant characteristics. Leadership development programs and HR practices should emphasize these competencies to strengthen organizational culture and performance. Building such capacities enhances competitiveness and ensures SME sustainability in dynamic environments.

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