Differences between the leadership behaviors of male and female managers and an application in banking sector

The purpose of this study is to examine the probable differences between men andwomen in general, the leadership behaviors of men and women in banking sector , andif there any, the differences between their leadership behaviors.In this context, in the first part of our study, varying definitions of leadership wereclassified and different leadership theories were examined. Moreover, modern theoriesof leadership were mentioned.In the second part, the historical development of working women in general wasviewed. Women in management and women leadersip in literature were examined.Furthermore, the barriers to womens in working conditions, and related to this, the glassceiling concept were discussed.In the last part of the study, a study on the managers of Turkish banking sectorwas performed to analyse the leadership behavior of men and women managers, and ifany , to determine the differences between their leadersip behaviors. In this framework,two questionnaires based on Robert I. Kabacoff?s `Leaderhip Effectivenes Analysis?were formed. The firt questionnaire, labelled as `Leadership Behavior Questionnaire?,measures 22 leadership behavior of managers, while the second questionnaire measures20 leadersip skills of managers. In the first quetionnaire, the managers asked todetermine in wich scale they show these bahaviors. In the second questionnaire, themanagers asked to compare women and men in 20 leadership skills. Relabiliaty analysisfor both questionnaires, descriptive analysis, and correlation analysis were done. As aresult of this study, there found no significant difference between the leadershipbehaviors of men and women managers. The only differences between them were foundon their leadership skills. Women were tended to be rated higher on people-orientedleadership skills, while men were tended to be rated higher on business-orientedleadership skills.Key Words: Leadership; management; glass ceiling; motivation to lead; power.