Age influences on the leadership styles and behaviour of managers

This article explains reasons why the study of the relationship between leadership and age may be important and, using a questionnaire survey to collect data from over 400 UK managers, it identifies age influences on the leadership styles and behaviour of the managers. The findings suggest that younger and older managers have different profiles in their consultative and participative leadership styles. Older managers consulted more widely and favour more participation in comparison with younger managers. However the two groups of managers both practice directive and delegative leadership styles at about the same degree. On leadership behaviour, only idealised influence shows a significant F ‐test between younger and older managers while the other measures show remarkable similarities between the two age groups. Some implications of the findings are discussed including the need to harmonise the positive contributions of both the younger and the older workers and giving respect to the contributions of both groups.