Many youth organizations, including the Youth of Nahdlatul Wathan (NW) Sumbawa Besar Organization, struggle to optimize managerial performance due to mismatched leadership styles and low member motivation, which reduce operational effectiveness and productivity, underscoring the need to evaluate how leadership style impacts performance by improving motivation. This study aims to analyze the impact of leadership style on managerial performance, both directly and indirectly through motivation as a mediating variable. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected via a Likert scale-based questionnaire from 51 administrators in Sumbawa Besar Regency and analyzed using SEM-PLS. The results indicate that leadership style significantly affects managerial performance and notably boosts member motivation, which in turn enhances managerial performance. This finding confirms the mediating role of motivation in the relationship between leadership and performance. Therefore, the implementation of adaptive leadership styles and member empowerment is essential for improving the operational effectiveness of organizations. In the Youth of NW Sumbawa Besar Organization, motivation plays a vital role as a mediator that amplifies the influence of leadership style on managerial performance, extending its effects beyond direct impact. This finding has not been documented in prior studies concerning the Youth of NW Sumbawa Besar Organization. The implications of this study offer a practical framework for youth organization managers to create leadership training programs aimed at boosting motivation.