EXAMINATION OF LEADERSHIP STYLES BY GENDER; A CASE OF TAMALE POLYTECHNIC

Abstract

There is a growing interest on the need to expand frontiers of leadership studies with particular reference to leadership styles that people practice in both public and private sector organisations. This is to ensure that the right leadership behavioural traits are identified and encouraged for practice among workers in those organisations to enhance efficiency and productivity. This study examines leadership styles of Tamale Polytechnic staff by gender. Key issues examined include relationship between staff leadership styles and gender, leadership styles being practiced by both male and female staff and how those leadership styles relate to staff efficient performance and productivity. The study adopted a descriptive survey of non-experimental research method involving the use of both qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques. The study used purposive and stratified random sampling techniques for selection of respondents with a questionnaire as the research instrument. The study discovers that gender determines staff leadership styles. The study also reveals that although both male and female staff in Tamale Polytechnic practiced transformational leadership characteristics than transactional behavioural traits, female staff slightly dominated their male counterparts in the practice of transformational leadership styles whilst the male staff also exceeded the female staff in the practice of transactional leadership styles. The study concludes that behavioural traits of transformational leadership styles promote staff efficiency and productivity than transactional leadership styles. The study recommends that the Polytechnic authority should encourage the practice of transformational leadership characteristics among its staff to ensure efficient performance and productivity.