Think transformational leadership – Think female?

Abstract

This study examines whether the behaviors of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership are perceived as being more typical of female or male leaders. In a questionnaire study, 113 participants in Germany were asked to rate the probability of occurrence of a specific leadership behavior for male and female leaders, respectively. A diagnostic ratio for each leadership behavior allows the determination of the direction and degree of gender-specific evaluations. As predicted, transformational leadership is believed to be more typical of female leaders. Nevertheless, inspirational motivation and idealized influence attributed are rated as being gender neutral. For transactional leadership, contingent reward was perceived to be more typical of female leaders, whereas management by exception was rated as neutral. Contrary to expectation, laissez-faire was not perceived as more typical of male leaders, but rather as gender neutral. Implications regarding potential gender biases for selection, training, and performance appraisals of leaders are discussed.