Relationships of participative leadership with relational demography variables: a multi‐level perspective

Relationships of participative leadership with relational demography variables (age, tenure, education, and gender) were explored in an integrated model, combining the ALS (Average Leadership Style) and the LMX (Leader–Member Exchange) approaches to leadership. Data were collected from 561 staff members from 36 schools. The r wg and the WABA (within‐ and between‐analysis) results indicated the prevalence of the LMX model and the individual‐differences approach in explaining the relationship of the leader's participative behaviors with relational demography variables. In addition, consistent with the study hypotheses, the negative relationship between demographic dissimilarity and PDM (participative decision‐making) was stronger in short‐term superior–subordinate relationships than in longer‐term relationships. These results should encourage researchers to theorize on, and then test for levels of analysis when studying participative leadership.