Abstract
The purpose of this research is to determine the role of leadership and the factors that influence the improvement of employe performance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection techniques thru observation, interviews, and documentation. Informants were determined using purposive sampling techniques, totaling 10 people. The collected data were then analyzed thru the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The research results show that the Role of Leadership in Improving Employe Performance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Office in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency has been Quite Good. From the aspect of Interpersonal Roles, it is concluded that the leadership is performing quite well, as they are able to provide direction, motivation, and serve as role models for employes. In the aspect of Informational Roles, it is concluded that they are performing quite well, marked by the dissemination of information thru various media and the presence of work supervision. However, the involvement of the leadership in supervision and the clarity of information explanations are still not optimal. In the aspect of Decision-Making Role, it is concluded to be quite good. Leaders are able to solve problems thru deliberation and resource management, but innovation, breakthroughs, and task distribution are still situational and need strengthening. The driving factors of leadership are good communication, exemplary leadership, and a conducive work environment. Meanwhile, the hindering factors include inconsistent clarity of instructions, suboptimal supervision, and unclear task distribution. Overall, leadership has been quite good but still needs improvement.