Gender, communication and leadership: A qualitative study of students’ experiences
Pulsfort, Christina (2022)
2022
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022101621295
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2022101621295
Tiivistelmä
This qualitative study examines if there are differences in communication between male and female leaders in organisations based on students' perceptions. A total of eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with students who had each completed at least a three-month in- ternship and were thus able to report on the communication behaviour of their (former) leader. Thereby, care was taken to ensure that the number of female and male students interviewed as well as the number of female and male leaders reported on was equal. The interviews were evaluated by means of a qualitative content analysis.
Although this study found some differences in the communication of female and male leaders in organisations, these differences are not as great as suspected. Moreover, the research suggests that stereotypical expectations exist in students' minds. These have an influence on how students perceive their leader's communication behaviour. Furthermore, the study does not confirm that female leaders are less self-confident than male leaders, nor that they communicate less directly than male leaders. Based on the results, it is assumed that women in leadership positions have to communicate confidently and straightforwardly in order to get into this position in the first place and to be able to prove themselves there. What is more, it could not be proven that female leaders communicate relationally while male leaders communicate factually. The assumption here is that both male and female leaders must be able to communicate both relationally and factually. Finally, this study shows that several factors influence a leader’s communication, such as culture, educational background and personal characteristics. Gender is only one of these factors.
Although this study found some differences in the communication of female and male leaders in organisations, these differences are not as great as suspected. Moreover, the research suggests that stereotypical expectations exist in students' minds. These have an influence on how students perceive their leader's communication behaviour. Furthermore, the study does not confirm that female leaders are less self-confident than male leaders, nor that they communicate less directly than male leaders. Based on the results, it is assumed that women in leadership positions have to communicate confidently and straightforwardly in order to get into this position in the first place and to be able to prove themselves there. What is more, it could not be proven that female leaders communicate relationally while male leaders communicate factually. The assumption here is that both male and female leaders must be able to communicate both relationally and factually. Finally, this study shows that several factors influence a leader’s communication, such as culture, educational background and personal characteristics. Gender is only one of these factors.