Some Personality Traits and the Location of Occupational Control in Women Leaders

Abstract

Theoreticians and researchers often compare the feminine and masculine styles of management. There are only few studies focused on women alone, without comparing them to men, especially women who hold high positions and are leaders in the area in which they operate. The purpose of this research was to attempt to answer the question, what are the female leaders’ personality traits and the sense of location of control. The research involved Robert R. McCrae and Paul T. Costa’s NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Man in Work Questionnaire, 70 women aged 35–55 participated in them. The research group was 35 women working in corporate companies and public institutions that occupy higher positions, and the comparison group included 35 women in lower positions, such as a salesperson, nurse, medical caregiver and teacher. Interesting results were observed in relation to differences in personality traits between the two groups of women surveyed. It turned out that female leaders differ from women working in basic positions only the level of extraversion and neuroticism. However, no significant differences were found in terms of conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience. They also show an internal sense of location of control at work, which undoubtedly helps them in fulfilling their professional roles, requiring full commitment, faith in their own abilities and responsibility for themselves and others.