Abstract
The purpose of this study is to identify the transformational or transactional leadership styles of Korean dietitians. The study was completed with Korean dietitians (n = 268, $67\%$ response) using mail survey. The leadership styles were divided into transformational (including charisma, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration) and transactional (contingent reward, management by exception) leadership found in the several literature. Overall, the score of Korean dietitians' transactional leadership was higher than that of the transformational leadership (p < .05). Among three sub-dimensions of the transformational leadership styles, the score of 'individualized consideration' was higher than 'charisma' and 'intellectual stimulation'. Between two sub-dimensions of the transactional leadership styles, Korean dietitians used more 'management-by-exception' than 'contingent reward'. ANOVA results suggested that the transformational leadership was more likely to be used by the younger dietitians, while the transactional leadership was more likely to be used by the older dietitians (p < .05). Data showed that dietitians having 3-6 year dietetic experience used more transformational leadership than other experienced dietitians (p < .05). It was also found that the Korean dietitians' leadership styles were influenced by the type of dietetic practice area. Data showed that 'charisma', 'intellectual stimulation', 'individualized consideration' and 'contingent reward' were more likely to be used by Korean dietitians from school than by dietitians from health. care and industry (p < .05). This study will be useful for dietitians to guide the application of appropriate leadership style in order to increase employees' job satisfaction as well as organizational performance. (J Community Nutrition 7(4) : $207\∼214$, 2005)