Gender-based Differences in Leadership Style: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

This research investigates the differences in leadership styles among males and females of tertiary educational institutions in Cambodia and Malaysia. The study used a questionnaire as a measuring instrument and hypotheses testing to perform a one-sample t-test and a paired t-test. The sampling design used was convenience sampling. This research is relatively novel as it involved respondents from educational institutions in two Southeast Asian countries. This research found that females have a people-oriented leadership style and have a higher perception of their leadership abilities. In addition, it found that males have neither a task-oriented nor a people-oriented leadership style. The study suggests that women should be given the helm to manage these concerns in light of recent geopolitical uncertainties and workplace issues.