MANAGER COMMUNICATIVE STYLE AND NURSE MORALE

Employees of female managers who were perceived as managing in a stereotypically feminine style reported significantly greater morale and job satisfaction than did employees whose female managers were perceivedAs managing in an stereotypically masculine style.

Abstract

This research project examined questions concerning the effectiveness of female managers using stereotypically masculine or feminine communication management styles. Nurses from three hospitals were surveyed on the perceptions of the communication management style of their superiors and answered self-report questions about their morale and job satisfaction. Employees of female managers who were perceived as managing in a stereotypically feminine style reported significantly greater morale and job satisfaction than did employees whose female managers were perceived as managing in a stereotypically masculine style. Implications are discussed.