Exploring Female Leader Development: Women and Leadership in the Minnesota Army National Guard

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how female military officers describe their personal experiences and perceive their professional development in a male dominated organization. A phenomenological research method was most appropriate for this research study to capture the lived experiences of female leaders from their individual perspectives based on their service in the military. Nine female commissioned officers were interviewed from the Minnesota Army National Guard in the military ranks of captain, major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel. Three themes emerged from the study that expand and enrich the understanding of the lived experience of female commissioned officers in the Minnesota Army National Guard. Within the three major themes there were several sub-themes. The three major themes: (1) personal and professional relationships, (2) leadership strategies, and (3) operational experience and assignments. The themes revealed the multifaceted dimensions of female officers and their experience with leader development. The findings suggest a stronger need for leader development programs in the military. The study confirmed mentoring future leaders and providing a leader development program is important to the development of leaders in today's military. These findings provide a baseline for future research in the area of leader development for women in the military.