Leader behavior expectations from a gender perspective: an extension of the LEAD study in Mexico

Abstract

The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in Mexico iswell documented. The goal of this research was to measure female and male participant expectations of effective leaders. Podsakoff et al.’s (1990)scale oftransformational and transactional leader behaviors was translated and adapted forthis purpose.Factor analyses and t-tests were conducted. The results suggest that female and male participants attribute similar levels of importance to the role of the leader intheinspiring a shared purposedimension. The results also suggest that femalesin the sample attribute less importance to working across organizational boundariesand setting high performance expectationsthan malesin the sample. Limitationsinclude the cross-sectional nature of the study and focus on graduate students and alumni.Few studies on leader behavior expectations from a gender perspective have been conducted in Mexico, which informs to the novelty of this research.