Special session - gender influences on the role of persuasion in leadership

Summary form only given. This session enables the participant to develop a conceptual framework, using socio-psychological and organizational principles for understanding the interaction between people and their communication in academic work. Emphasis is placed on the role of gender and the social forces that influence persuasion in the context of leadership. "I am sure that she is paying attention because she is always nodding her head and smiling as I speak, but the males in the group appear to be just staring blankly at me"; "When he is forceful and competent not only does he change the group's mind...they appear to truly like him, in contrast her forceful actions are viewed very differently"; "I am exactly the same as professor (chair, dean, director) whether the group is entirely male or entirely female or a mixed group", and "How do males in contrast to females ask for what they want in academia?" are typical controversial comments that are heard about gender and persuasion at work. Parallels are drawn from psychology theory to academic practice by linking elements of persuasive communication to specific situations. Topics covered are designed to demonstrate the relationship among the gender of the individual, group behavior, emerging leadership and the organizational decision-making process. A preliminary presentation looks at gender and communication using conceptual frameworks from the psychology of women, work place role, and concepts of leadership. Existing studies suggest that women and men perceive and construct the relationship between self and others in very different ways. Organizational research indicates that the thinking about leadership has shifted from the unreachable "superhuman model" to the more adaptive leader. While past research has contributed some very enlightening work in attempting to decipher what goes on in the leader's head, a relatively new focus concerns the impact of gender on the role of persuasion at work. In an increasingly fast paced workplace that depends on a new competitive level, the need to understand and apply the role of persuasive communication is obvious. The scope of this interactive presentation includes a qualitative search for understanding gender and persuasion at work and potential use for that understanding to improve engineering education. Research models are explored interactively. Discussions, mini-simulations and recommendations are generated from the participants