Influence Strategies in the Supervisory Dyad: An Investigation Into the Effects of Gender and Age

A content analysis of audiotapes from 42 counseling supervisory dyads examined the effects of supervisor and supervisee gender on the influence strategies used in the session. Gender of the supervisor was not related to influence strategy. Supervisors of both genders were significantly more likely to accept or build upon the ideas generated by female supervisees and asked for more opinions from male supervisees. Male supervisees gave significantly more suggestions than did female supervisees, and female supervisees praised their supervisors more often than did male supervisees. Also, age differences between supervisor and supervisee interacted with gender to affect influence strategies used in the supervisory dyad.