In this study we examined thinking style, leadership style and competence of ACECR managers. The sample included 231 ACECR managers from all around of Iran which selected through Stratified Sampling. Two kind of instruments were used in this study, ones which constructed by researchers on the basis of cultural elements and others which are usually used all around the world to assess these variables. In reality we had 5 instruments TSI, MLQ and 3 questionnaires generated for this study. Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed 3 factors for competence, 2 for thinking style and 2 for leadership style.
The results showed spiritual thinking style is dominant while materialistic thinking style is in the average. Organization-centered is high in relation to self-centered leadership style and the ACECR managers’ competence is high especially in profession and values components. On the basis of mental self-government theory, in function executive and judicial were more than legislative thinking styles. Global thinking is high and local thinking is in the average. Internal (M=4.17) is more observed than external thinking style. Although there is not a significant difference between liberal and conservative style, managers more inclined to liberal thinking. In regard to form, monarchic, oligarchic, and anarchic, nearly observed in the average level (3.32, 3.36, 3.22 respectably) but hierarchical style with 4.17 median has Pioneered. The result of MLQ execution showed transformational style is high (M=4.17) Transactional is medium (M=3.49) and laissez-faire leadership style is little (M=2.028).
In response to relationship between leadership and thinking style in ACECR managers, significant correlations observed between organization-centered leadership style and spiritual thinking style (r= 0.36); organization-centered leadership style and materialistic thinking style (r= -0.27). Also there was a significant positive correlation between materialistic and self- centered styles (r=0.17). Positive significant correlation between competence and spiritual thinking style (r=0.40) and negative significant correlation between competence and materialistic thinking style (r= -0.39) are some other findings in this research. Regression analysis was used to answer question about competence prediction by thinking and leadership styles in ACECR managers. In this way spiritual and materialistic style could explain 20% of competence variance. For prediction of competence via leadership styles only organization- centered style have this power with a good multiple correlation coefficient (R2=0.78). Thus organization- centered style can explain 61% variance of competence. Although the prediction of competence by Sternberg thinking styles is significant, it is not meaningful. In stepwise regression only hierarchical and monarchic style could enter the regression equation and both of them only could explain 1% variance of competence. Among leadership styles only transformational style had the criterion for entrance in regression equation (R2=0.36 and r2=13%). This study showed us thinking styles and leadership styles are culture dependent and it is very important to use proper tools for their assessment.