Leadership has proved itself to be an interesting topic for researchers.
Numerous investigators have studied leadership styles in different cultures,
occupations, organizational settings. Nevertheless, it was rarely examined among
teaching faculty members of higher education institutes and universities. The
current study seeks to determine the leadership style of teaching staff as
perceived by clinical instructors compared with their preferred style. A
descriptive comparative design was utilized to attain the aim of the present study.
Data was collected through questionnaire developed by the researcher consist of
three parts; first part the socio- demographic data, the second &the third part
were the perceived and preferred leadership style. The present study concluded
that the leadership behaviors of the teaching staff have five dimensions:
supportive, democratic, motivating, professional development oriented, and
directive. The most valued leadership behavior is the motivating followed by: the
democratic, the supportive, and the professional development oriented, while the
least preferred style was the directive style. There is a significant difference
between the clinical instructors perceived and preferred leadership behaviors of
their seniors.
Key wards: leadership style, perceived leadership style, preferred leadership
style, clinical instructors, and teaching staff.
