Slide 10 of 11

The scripted exercise has two students (1 male and 1 female) engaged in a brief interaction whereby each tries to influence the other. Research indicates that the female leader will be described differently in terms of her personality, and may experience more covert bias than the male leader (Butler & Geis, 1990). Although evidence of widespread overt bias in terms of differences in performance ratings and decisions about promotions may be declining, women leaders still face obstacles associated with covert resistance to their influence attempts.