The role of leadership traits in successfully navigating politically motivated workplace conflicts by public managers: a case of Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province

Abstract

The study was intended to evaluate the role of leadership traits in successfully navigating politically motivated workplace conflicts by public managers in the Vhembe District. Workplace conflict has a detrimental impact in any public institutions’ productivity and financial viability. The specific problem is that some public managers lack effective leadership traits to manage politically motivated conflicts. In addition to this, many studies indicate how leaders through their institutions have adeptly mediated workplace conflict. The study was informed by the interpretivism paradigm, and a case study research design was implemented. A qualitative research methodology was used since the study sought to solicit detailed information from the participants. The total population comprised of 60 managers and a purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 20 public managers for participation in the study. The study area was in the Vhembe District, inclusive of its two local municipalities, Collins Chabane Local Municipality and Musina Local Municipality. Thematic data analysis was used as a data analysis tool. The study’s major finding revealed that causes such as power struggles and lack of transparency are the major causes of politically motivated conflict in the workplace. However, the causes have a severe effect on the productivity of institutions. The study recommends that causes of politically motivated conflict in the workplace should be addressed before it can lead to conflict, in that way it will help managers to deal with fewer conflicts. In addressing politically motivated workplace conflict, the municipality should consider stringent measures on people who do not focus on their tasks because it slows down the progress on the institution.