International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology Vol. 29, No. 8s, (2020), pp. 2018-2025 2018 ISSN: 2005-4238 IJAST Copyright ⓒ 2020 SERSC The Relationship between Leadership Styles and Employee Commitment in Public Organizations of Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia Aschalew Mulugeta 1 , Dr. A.V.R Pandian 2 1 Assistant Professor,Department of Management ,College of Business and Economics, Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia 2 Professor,Department of Management ,College of Business and Economics, Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia Abstract The primary objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between different leadership styles and employee commitment in public organizations of Ethiopia with special reference to Dire Dawa Administration. For this study the researchers have applied stratified proportionate random sampling technique in which 597 sample respondents from 15 different public organizations of DDA are taken as sample size. Primary data collection method is used to collect information from the selected sample respondents comprising of leaders and employees from the administration by using Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). Descriptive statistics, two-tailed Pearson correlation analysis and independent sample T-test at 95% CL are used for data analysis. This study points out there are significant differences between the two samples on all dimensions of leadership except management by exception (active) and overall transactional leadership scale. Transformational leadership style is more effective than transactional leadership in affecting all subscales of employees’ organizational commitment. However, laissez-faire leadership has a negative correlation with employees’ affective commitment. But it does not have any significant correlation to both continuance and normative commitments. Hence, it is recommended that the leaders of DDA public organizations should focus more on developing efficient team work and express warm concern and trust to co-workers through transformational leadership behavior. Keywords: Transformational Leadership, Transactional Leadership, Laissez-faire, Affective Commitment, Continuance Commitment, Normative Commitment, Dire Dawa Administration. 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study Organizational commitment of employees is very essential for the success of an organization. Committed employees perform better than their uncommitted coworkers. They are willing to put more efforts to meet the job requirements. They play an important role to promote the organization as a conducive work place. Leadership style is the most important factor influencing employees’ attitudes, behaviors and organizational commitment. Managers have followed different leadership styles such as participative or relationship oriented approach, directive or task oriented style while dealing with their subordinates in order to achieve the desired organizational performance. Choosing a particular leadership style is dependent on the qualities of leaders, subordinates’ willingness to accept their leaders, leaders ‘preparedness to take up responsibilities, task complexity and organizational members ‘belief, cultural norms and values. Dire Dawa city administration in Ethiopia has been implementing different reform tools such as, BPR (2009), BSC (2011), change army (2014), citizen charter since, 2014, good governance and kaizen since 2011. These measures expect leaders of the administration to become more transformational in order to create committed workforce. The pilot study has indicated that the three leadership styles namely Transformational, Transactional and Laissez-Faire have been practiced in Dire Dawa Administration.Bothshort term and long term public organizational plan scan be successfully accomplished with the help of committed work force.Hence, the role of leaders in this endeavor will be highly significant. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the effect of various