<![CDATA[Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effect of work motivation and leadership style on employee performance at the Kerinci Regency Education Office, considering that employee performance has not been fully optimal in supporting organizational effectiveness. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study employed a quantitative approach with an explanatory research design. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 47 employees selected as the research sample. The data were analyzed using validity and reliability tests, classical assumption tests, and multiple linear regression analysis to examine the influence of work motivation and leadership style on employee performance. Findings: The findings reveal that work motivation and leadership style have a positive and significant effect on employee performance, both partially and simultaneously. The Adjusted R Square value of 0.387 indicates that work motivation and leadership style explain 38.7% of the variance in employee performance, while the remaining percentage is influenced by other factors outside the research model. These results demonstrate that improving employee motivation and implementing appropriate leadership styles can significantly enhance employee performance. Research Implications: This study provides practical implications for the Kerinci Regency Education Office by highlighting the importance of improving employee motivation and adopting supportive leadership to enhance employee performance and public service quality. Theoretically, this study supports the understanding of the relationship between work motivation, leadership style, and employee performance in the public sector. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the Kerinci Regency Education Office as a local government education institution, which has received limited attention in previous research.]]>
