TALENT MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KADUNA STATE

Abstract

The relationship between the three aspects of talent management—acquisition,
development, and retention of talent—and their impact on effective leadership in
Kaduna State's small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was experimentally
investigated in this study. The 375 questionnaires that were given to SMEs'
owners and managers in Kaduna State served as the source of empirical data for
this investigation. A thorough analysis of the relationship between effective
leadership and talent management dimensions was made possible using
SmartPLS 3 in conjunction with the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation
Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach for data collection and analysis. The results
show that effective leadership in SMEs in Kaduna State is positively and
statistically correlated with talent acquisition, development, and retention. It was
discovered that hiring procedures that support the organization's strategic
objectives. It has been discovered that cultivating effective leadership requires
talent acquisition strategies that are in line with the organization's strategic
objectives. By providing empirical evidence of the impact of talent management
on leadership in SMEs, especially in the setting of Kaduna State, this study
addresses a major gap in the literature. These results provide insightful
information for practitioners, policymakers, and SMEs that want to improve
organizational success and leadership qualities in Kaduna State's changing
business environment.