Work Motivation Role in Mediating Strategic Leadership Style and Cognitive Behavior Impact on the Performance of The Aceh Provincial Education Department

This study investigates the influence of strategic leadership styles and cognitive behavior on work motivation and organizational performance within the Aceh Provincial Education Department. The research involved a sample of 152 employees, selected through proportional stratified random sampling from a population of 815 civil servants. Data was collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire, and the analysis employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results reveal that a strategic leadership style has both a direct and indirect positive impact on organizational performance, with work motivation serving as a partial mediator. Similarly, cognitive behavior exhibits a direct and indirect positive effect on organizational performance, also partially mediated by work motivation. These findings underscore the significant role of antecedent variables within the model, suggesting that fostering strategic leadership and enhancing cognitive behavior among employees can substantially boost motivation and, in turn, improve organizational performance.