Linking communication to work performance: Perceived digital leadership as a mediator for university lecturers

Post-pandemic changes may alter lecturers' work performance; some may show optimal performance, while others may experience a decline. This study aims to explain the relationship between Perceived Leader Communication and lecturers' work performance, and tests Perceived Digital Leadership as a mediating variable. A sample of 351 lecturers from five universities with PTN-BH (Public University with Legal Entity) status was selected through incidental sampling. Using Covarian- Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) with the SmartPLS application, the findings indicate that Perceived Leader Communication significantly influences Task Performance, whereas no significant direct effect is observed on Contextual Performance. However, Perceived Digital Leadership fully mediates the relationship between Perceived Leader Communication and Contextual Performance. Further investigation should prioritize elements of Perceived Digital Leadership—particularly the Innovative and Supportive dimensions—to enhance lecturers’ performance.