One topic that comes up in management is the lack of female CEOs, especially in the Fortune 500. Given that in 2013 only 26 out of 500 were female, we wonder why this is the case. Are there differences between male and female leaders? While some research supports that there are no gender differences in the leadership styles employed by men and women, others support the idea that there is a difference between male and female leaders in how they lead. By exploring literature research on both points of view, we would then be able to draw our own conclusion as to whether any differences exist. Some research on gender differences in leadership styles has concluded that there are no quantifiable differences between men and women. in leadership Task-oriented leaders are autocratic, direct, and controlling (Eagly & Johnson, 1990). Task-oriented behaviors are “focused on performing the work facing the work group and are therefore similar to those of the initiating structure factor. The leader is concerned with establishing work standards, supervising work and achieving production objectives” (Riggio, 2008). These take-charge leadership traits are emulated by men's characteristics when it comes to communication. As stated in chapter two, men are very goal oriented when it comes to how they approach communication as they use conversations to achieve results, preserve independence, dominance and maintain their status in the hierarchical social order (Tannen , 1990). . Therefore, men's communication style, based mainly on control and power, mirrors their task-oriented leadership style quite perfectly. This aggressive approach is primarily why men emerge as leaders more often than women in the workplace. Other meta-analytic research has shown that male managers are more motivated to work in competitive environments where they exercise an assertive role, are able to impose their desires on others and stand out in a group of people (Eagly, Johannesen -Schmidt, & Van Engen, 2003; While men use a task-oriented leadership approach, women are much more interested in the bonds they have with their followers. This relationship-oriented style is characterized by democratic and participatory leadership characteristics (Eagly & Johnson, 1990) Relationship-oriented behaviors focus on maintaining interpersonal relationships at work, including “showing concern for the well-being of employees and involving them in decision-making processes” (Riggio, 2008). more of a caretaker role, perhaps