Do Junior Workers Perceive Leaders Demonstrating Queen Bee/Alpha Male Behaviour as Role Models, and Does This Affect Their Desire to Work at the Organisation?

Abstract

Women in leadership positions often face discrimination and negative gender stereotypes, particularly in male-dominated organisations. One way they cope with this is by displaying Queen Bee (QB) behaviour. Research has shown that male leaders can sometimes adopt a similar style of Alpha Male (AM) behaviour. The present study examined if it is the behaviour of the leader, or a combination of leader behaviour and gender, that impacts junior workers’ perception of the leader as a role model. The present study also examined if this perception of the leader as a role model impacts junior workers’ desire to work for the organisation. In the present study, 257 male and female participants read a fictitious interview with a male or female team leader. This leader either displayed QB/AM behaviour or non-QB/AM behaviour. Participants then answered questions regarding their perception of the leader as a role model and their interest in working at the organisation. Results showed that participants viewed leaders displaying QB/AM behaviour as poorer role models compared to those displaying non-QB/AM behaviour, regardless of leader gender. Participants also showed a greater desire to work at the organisation when the leader displayed non-QB/AM behaviour rather than QB/AM behaviour, and this was mediated by the perception of the leader as a role model. These findings show that simply having a leader of the same gender is not enough to attract junior workers, the behaviour of the leader is most important.