Perceptions of Gender-Role Characteristics and Transformational and Transactional Leadership Behaviours

This research was initiated to investigate the relationship between perceived gender-role characteristics and transformational and transactional leadership. Looking at the 1985 leadership model of Bass and the gender model of Bern (1974), a combination of the measures developed in their research was used. The resulting questionnaire was administered to a sample of 153 Polytechnic students in a first-year management course. Analysis suggested significant positive correlations between perceived gender characteristics and transformational leadership and significant positive correlations between some transformational and transactional leadership behaviours. Values were of low to moderate magnitude. The results imply that to be effective, leaders must display both feminine and masculine behaviours.