ABSTRACTSex is commonly viewed as a major factor influencing the leadership climate of human organizations. However, the direction and the nature of this influence is not clear. A sample of work groups in fast‐food restaurants was studied to investigate the existence of perceptual differences among opposite sexes of ideal as well as actual leadership styles. The findings of the study suggest that women employees evaluate the actual style of their supervisor higher on „initiation of structure” and „consideration” dimensions, while supervisors believed in initiating more structure but less consideration when supervising women. The study also found that in a typical restaurant the majority of employees and their manager were of oppos