Differences in the perception of leadership among three generations of employees.

Abstract

This study investigated the differences in the perception of leadership between employees from the Baby Boomer (i.e., 1946-1964), Generation X (i.e., 1965-1977), and Generation Y (i.e., 1978-1985) groups. Participants were 94 individuals who were employed in the Midwest and ranged in age from 19 to 65. Participants were given the Leadership Behavioral Description Questionnaire XII. Results indicated that employees showed significant differences in three areas of leadership (i.e., Speaker/Representer, Initiation of Structure, and Role Assumption). Using a One-Way Analysis of Variance and the Tukey analysis, partial support and significant differences were found between generations when asked their perceptions on whether or not a leader should be the speaker or representer of the group (Hypothesis 1), F(2, 91) = 4.54,p < .02. The Tukey showed that differences existed between Boomers (M= 20.70, SD = 7.14) and Gen Y (M= 15.93, SD = 7.47). Full support and significant differences were also found with Hypothesis 5, F(2, 91) = 3.30, p < .05. The Tukey showed that differences were found between Boomers (M = 42.70, SD = 10.09) and Gen Y (M= 39.41, SD = 5.90). Hypothesis 7 was also significant and fully supported, F(2, 91) = 3.55,p < .05. The Tukey showed that differences were found between Boomers (M= 37.55, SD = 3.62) and Gen X (M= 34.60, SD = 4.63).61 % of the participants reported that they had received some type of prior formal leadership training.