Male vs Female Leaders: Analysis of Transformational, Transactional & Laissez-faire Women Leadership Styles

Abstract

The study aimed to find empirical evidence on whether female leadership styles differ or similar to male’s leadership styles. The research compared women and men on transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leadership styles. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire formulated based on Bass and Avolio’s (1997) Full Range Leadership Development Theory, was used to determine leadership styles. The Overall findings from this study suggest that female leaders have more transformational qualities, which they may favour because it provides them with a means of overcoming obstructions to their leadership and naturally demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of their gender role and that conforming to their gender role can impede their ability to meet the requirements of their role.

Keywords: Female Leadership, Transformational leadership, Transactional Leadership, Laissez-faire Leadership