Psychiatrist-executive management styles: nature or nurture?

The authors studied the management styles of the 11 directors of psychiatry in municipal general hospitals in New York City. The Lead-Self Scale and the Lead-Other Scale were used. The directors' Lead-Self Scale scores were compared with those of 11 psychiatric residents. Results show that the directors had a high task/high relationship primary style and a high relationship/low task secondary style. Psychiatric residents revealed a less differentiated pattern of self-perceived management style. The authors speculate about the effects of experience, training, role models, and personality traits on management styles and suggest areas for further research.