Transformational Leadership: The Key to Survival and Sustainability of Agrifood SMEs in Botswana?

This study investigates the influence of transformational leadership (TFL) on the survival and sustainability (SS) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Botswana’s agrifood sector. Despite growing evidence linking leadership effectiveness to SME sustainability, research exploring TFL’s influence in Botswana remains limited. This research addresses this gap by evaluating four key components of TFL: idealised influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualised consideration. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was adopted, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data was collected using probability sampling through self-administered questionnaires, while qualitative data was gathered via non-probability sampling through in-depth interviews. Quantitative analysis involved multiple linear regression using the R programming language, whereas qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis and verbatim transcription. The findings indicated that idealised influence was the only TFL dimension significantly influencing SME sustainability in Botswana’s agrifood sector. However, overall, the regression model confirmed a positive relationship between TFL and SME sustainability. The study’s primary limitation is the lack of prior research on Botswana’s agrifood SMEs. Nonetheless, findings remain valid and generalisable due to the challenges that are shared among SMEs. The research provides insights into leadership strategies that enhance the performance of agrifood SMEs through transformational leadership.