AHRMR

Article Details

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2026): September

How Transformational Leadership Shapes Job Satisfaction Among Millennial Educators in Indonesia: Evidence from Yogyakarta

https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v6.n3.p185-197.2026

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines how transformational leadership influences intrinsic motivation and job satisfaction among millennial educators in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and explores how these relationships are shaped by educators’ work experiences and local educational contexts.

Research Methodology: This study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey involving 82 millennial educators from formal and nonformal educational institutions and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). To deepen the interpretation of the statistical results, qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with ten selected informants.

Results: Transformational leadership positively influenced intrinsic motivation and job satisfaction. However, intrinsic motivation did not significantly affect job satisfaction, indicating no mediating effect. Qualitative findings highlight trust, autonomy, personal attention, supportive communication, and inspirational leadership as key factors enhancing job satisfaction.

Conclusions: Transformational leadership directly contributes to job satisfaction, whereas intrinsic motivation plays a limited role as a mediating mechanism in this context.

Limitations: This study is limited by its relatively small sample size and focus on urban educational institutions in Yogyakarta, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Contributions: This study provides contextual evidence of transformational leadership in Indonesian education and offers practical insights for developing adaptive, empathetic, and participatory leadership practices for millennial educators.

Keywords

Educational Leadership Intrinsic Motivation Job Satisfaction Millennial Educators Transformational Leadership

How to Cite

Hodi, H., Faisal, F., Mahmudah, S., & Fitriani, A. (2026). How Transformational Leadership Shapes Job Satisfaction Among Millennial Educators in Indonesia: Evidence from Yogyakarta. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 6(3), 185–197. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v6.n3.p185-197.2026

References

  1. Abu-Rumman, A. (2021). Transformational leadership and human capital within the disruptive business environment of academia. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 13(2), 178–187. https://doi.org/10.18844/wjet.v13i2.5652
  2. Ahmad, M. I. S., Idrus, M. I., & Rijal, S. (2023). The role of education in fostering entrepreneurial spirit in the young generation. Journal of Contemporary Administration and Management (ADMAN), 1(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.61100/adman.v1i2.28
  3. Akdere, M., & Egan, T. (2020). Transformational leadership and human resource development: Linking employee learning, job satisfaction, and organizational performance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 31(4), 393–421. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21404
  4. Al Jubouri, Z. T. K. (2023). The role of transformational leadership for human resource managers in training and development. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(4), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i4.1376
  5. Al-Husseini, S., El Beltagi, I., & Moizer, J. (2021). Transformational leadership and innovation: The mediating role of knowledge sharing amongst higher education faculty. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 24(5), 670-693. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2019.1588381
  6. Aljumah, A. (2023). The impact of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on job satisfaction: The mediating role of transactional leadership. Cogent Business & Management, 10(3), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2023.2270813
  7. Andrews, S. (2018). The power of perception: Leadership, emotional intelligence, and the gender divide. Morgan James Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Power-Perception-Le adership-Emotional-Intelligence/dp/1683505794
  8. Bass, B. M. (2015). Transformational leadership theory. In J. B. Miner (Eds.), In J. B. Miner (Ed.), Organizational behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation and leadership (pp. 361–385). Routledge (pp. 361-385).
  9. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589-597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
  10. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2023). Revisiting mixed methods research designs twenty years later. In C. N. Poth (Eds.), In C. N. Poth (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of mixed methods research design (pp. 21–36). SAGE Publications (pp. 21-36).
  11. Da Costa, A. F., de Sousa Saldanha, E., & Muni, J. (2025). The role of innovative organizational culture on the relationship between transformational leadership and work performance. Timor Leste Journal of Business and Management, 7(1), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.51703/bm.v7i0.235
  12. Dalkie, D. D., & Botha, R. J. N. (2024). Investigating the role of the principal’s individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation in shaping the academic performance of students in the secondary schools of Sidama Region, Ethiopia. Eximia, 13(1), 923-943. https://doi.org/10.47577/eximia.v13i1.509
  13. Easton, C., & Steyn, R. (2022). Millennials hold different cultural values to those of other generations: An empirical analysis. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 20, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v20i0.1901
  14. Hair, J. F., & Alamer, A. (2022). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) in second language and education research: Guidelines using an applied example. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2022.100027
  15. Hardianto, H., Hidayat, H., & Setiawan, M. N. A. (2025). The influence of reward, transformational leadership and motivation on job satisfaction of primary school teachers. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 9(4), 67-80. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202534916
  16. Ilyas, U., Sohail, A., Ashraf, A., & Rehman, A. (2024). The influence of inclusive leadership on employee work engagement: Examining the mediating path of job satisfaction. Migration Letters, 21(S7), 1746–1758. https://doi.org/10.59670/ml.v21iS7.9190
  17. Judge, T. A., Zhang, S. C., & Glerum, D. R. (2020). Job satisfaction. In V. I. Sessa & N. A. Bowling (Eds.), In V. I. Sessa & N. A. Bowling (Eds.), Essentials of job attitudes and other workplace psychological constructs (pp. 207–241). Routledge (pp. 207-241). Routledge.
  18. Kareem, J., Patrick, H. A., Prabakaran, N., B, V., Tantia, V., MPM, P. K., & Mukherjee, U. (2023). Transformational educational leaders inspire school educators’ commitment. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1171513
  19. Kekeocha, M. E., Anoke, A. F., Chukwuemeka-Onuzulike, N., & Ngozi, N. H. (2024). Work-life balance and employees’ commitment in plastics manufacturing firms in Anambra State, Nigeria. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 3(2), 141-154. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v3i2.2047
  20. Kriswanto, D., & Santosa, A. B. (2025). The impact of transformational leadership practices on teacher motivation and school performance. Journal of Social Studies Arts and Humanities (JSSAH), 5(1), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.33751/jssah.v5i1.12838
  21. Latuheru, M. S., Manuputty, F., & Angkotasan, S. (2024). Interactions between generations in digital literacy education: A case of millennial families in Suli, Central Maluku. Baileo: Jurnal Sosial Humaniora, 1(2), 141-154. https://doi.org/10.30598/baileofisipvol1iss2pp141-154
  22. Luarn, P., Chen, C.-C., & Chiu, Y.-P. (2023). Enhancing intrinsic learning motivation through gamification: A self-determination theory perspective. The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, 40(5), 413-424. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-06-2023-0068
  23. Magasi, C. (2021). The role of transformational leadership on employee performance: A perspective of employee empowerment. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 6(6), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejbmr.2021.6.6.1137
  24. Mahmoud, A. B., Reisel, W. D., Grigoriou, N., Fuxman, L., & Mohr, I. (2020). The reincarnation of work motivation: Millennials vs older generations. International Sociology, 35(4), 393-414. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580920913348
  25. Mardanov, I. (2021). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, organizational context, employee contentment, job satisfaction, performance and intention to stay. Evidence-Based HRM: A Global Forum for Empirical Scholarship, 9(3), 223-240. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBHRM-02-2020-0018
  26. Merry, S., Noureen, G., & Noshaba, A. (2022). Relationship between transformational leadership style and university teachers’ job performance as mediated by intrinsic motivation. Webology. Retrieved from https://www.webology.org/abstract.php?id=3099
  27. Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (2001). Organizational commitment. In C. L. Cooper & I. T. Robertson (Eds.), Personnel psychology and human resource management: A reader for students and practitioners (pp. 289–342). Wiley. Retrieved from https://search.worldcat.org/title/Personnel-psyc hology-and-human-resource-management-:-a-reader-for-students-and-practitioners/oclc/900408998
  28. Morales, J. C. (2022). Transformational leadership and teacher work motivation in private educational institutions. International Journal of Research Publications, 105(1), 578-614. https://doi.org/10.47119/IJRP1001051720223687
  29. Muktamar, A., Hertina, D., Ratnaningsih, R., Syaepudin, S., Syahputra, H., Hendriana, T. I., Masruroh, M., Sudalyo, R. A. T., & Nursanti, T. D. (2023). MSDM era milenial: Pengelolaan MSDM yang efektif untuk generasi milenial. PT Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books/about/MSDM_ERA_MILENIAL_Pengelolaan_MSDM_yang.html?id=GWHjEAAAQBAJ
  30. Mustajab, D., & Darmayanti, N. (2025). Psychological capital, leader-member exchange, and job involvement in shaping innovative behavior and work habits: Evidence from a non-banking financial entity in Jawa and Papua. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 4(2), 193-212. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v4i2.3003
  31. Nassar, C., Nastacă, C. C., & Nastaseanu, A. (2021). The leadership styles of men and women—Has the perception regarding female leaders changed?. Journal of US-China Public Administration, 18(2), 68–80. https://doi.org/10.17265/1548-6591/2021.02.001
  32. Park, J., Han, S. J., Kim, J., & Kim, W. (2022). Structural relationships among transformational leadership, affective organizational commitment, and job performance: The mediating role of employee engagement. European Journal of Training and Development, 46(9), 920-936. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-01-2022-0020
  33. Purwanto, A., & Sulaiman, A. (2023). The role of transformational and transactional leadership on job satisfaction of millennial teachers: A CB-SEM AMOS analysis. UJoST: Universal Journal of Science and Technology, 2(2), 1-8.
  34. Puspitadani, E., Yudea, F., & Loo, F. (2022). Educational leadership and learning quality: The influence of the principal’s leadership style on teacher performance. Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan dan Humaniora, 11(3), 206-220. https://doi.org/10.35335/jiph.v11i3.24
  35. Putri, N., & Meria, L. (2022). The effect of transformational leadership on employee performance through job satisfaction and organizational commitment. IAIC Transactions on Sustainable Digital Innovation (ITSDI), 4(1), 8-21. https://doi.org/10.34306/itsdi.v4i1.565
  36. Rafia, R., & Sudiro, A. (2020). The effect of transformational leadership on employee performance mediated by job satisfaction and employee engagement. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law. Retrieved from https://ijbel.com/wpcontent/uploads/2020/06/IJBEL21_257. pdf
  37. Ross, N. L. (2021). The relationship between leadership style, job satisfaction, and generational cohort [Doctoral dissertation, Capella University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/openview/18e585f28bbb15f6144b640ef4c20505/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&c bl=18750&diss=y
  38. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 101860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860
  39. Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2021). Building a science of motivated persons: Self-determination theory’s empirical approach to human experience and the regulation of behavior. Motivation Science, 7(2), 97-110. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000200
  40. Setiadi, N. J., Sutanto, H., Saputra, N., Natatilova, A. T., Leo, D. L., & Al Faridz, Z. (2024). Examining the roles of transformational leadership, emotional intelligence, and work-life balance in millennial employee engagement. Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 18(4), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v18i4.1
  41. Sismiati, S., Sulaiman, S., Usmar, U., Lanori, T., & Susanto, P. C. (2025). Enhancing employee competitiveness: The role mediation of human resources competencies. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 5(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.35912/ahrmr.v5i1.2789
  42. Somantri, C. (2021). Leadership of community education: Evidence from Indonesia [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nottingham]. University of Nottingham ePrints. Retrieved from https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/66888/
  43. Spector, P. E. (1997). Job satisfaction: Application, assessment, causes, and consequences. SAGE Publications.
  44. Sugianto, E., Suhardi, S., & Afrizal, A. (2024). The role of transformational leadership in the implementation of organizational strategic management. Cognitionis Civitatis et Politicae, 1(6), 457-471. https://doi.org/10.70177/politicae.v1i6.1819
  45. Sutanto, H., Utami, Y., & Diantoro, A. K. (2021). The effect of idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration on HR performance. RSF Conference Series: Business, Management and Social Sciences, 1(3), 100-109. https://doi.org/10.31098/bmss.v1i3.293
  46. Suyatno, S., Wantini, W., & Patimah, L. (2024). Intrinsic motivation of Gen Z to be a teacher in elementary schools. Futurity Education, 4(3), 169-181. https://doi.org/10.57125/fed.2024.09.25.10
  47. Tang, S. Y. F., Wong, A. K. Y., Li, D. D. Y., & Cheng, M. M. H. (2020). Millennial generation preservice teachers’ intrinsic motivation to become a teacher, professional learning and professional competence. Teaching and Teacher Education, 96(5), 103180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103180
  48. Venida, A. C. (2022). Exploring Generation Z teachers’ work values: Implications to educational leadership and management. International Journal of Education, 15(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.17509/ije.v15i1.46153
  49. Wibowo, A. A., Putri, M. R. E., & Rino, R. (2025). Transformational leadership for millennials in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0. Journal Transnational Universal Studies, 3(2), 67-72. https://doi.org/10.58631/jtus.v3i2.149
  50. Wibowo, Y., Widjaja, D. C., & Foedjiawati, F. (2022). Learning organization through the internalization of transformational leadership: A study of an Indonesian school. Journal of Leadership in Organizations, 4(2), 134-149. https://doi.org/10.22146/jlo.72343
  51. Wiranata, R. R. S. (2024). Gen Z’s perception of ideal work culture in school environment. Journal of Research in Islamic Education, 6(2), 141-153. https://doi.org/10.25217/jrie.v6i2.5752
  52. Yuan, Y., Wu, M., Hu, M., & Lin, I. (2019). Teacher’s encouragement on creativity, intrinsic motivation, and creativity: The mediating role of creative process engagement. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 53(3), 312-324. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.181
  53. Zarkasyi, M. R. (2024). Organizational commitment of the millennial generation workforce in Indonesian higher education: Systematic literature review. Al-Ishlah: Jurnal Pendidikan, 16(2), 1097-1107. https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v16i2.5151
WhatsApp Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Email