Gender differences in leadership styles: insights from Basque Country enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze gender differences in leadership styles in Basque Country enterprises, identifying unique characteristics and specific barriers faced by female leaders compared to their male counterparts. Design/methodology/approach The research involved a survey of 537 managers and middle managers from 31 large companies in the Basque Country, Spain. Participants provided data through a structured questionnaire, which included the MLQ-6S leadership test to assess leadership styles. Findings Results indicate that while women are perceived to excel in several leadership qualities, they face significant barriers to reaching top management positions. Differences in leadership styles between men and women were minimal, though women were more likely to believe in the existence of these differences. The results emphasize the need for targeted interventions to support female leaders and promote gender diversity in leadership roles. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to large companies in a specific region of Spain, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Future research should consider a broader geographical scope and a more diverse range of organizational sizes. Originality/value This research contributes to the understanding of gender dynamics in leadership by providing empirical evidence from a Spanish context, highlighting the perceptions and realities of female representation in management positions.