Management theory and practice has evolved steadily over the past several decades, with different views gaining prominence, yet research on the relationships among leadership style, formal education, and continuous updating of knowledge and skills has little or no research done.

This correlational study examined the relationship between updating managerial credentials and leadership style. The population surveyed consisted of individuals residing in the United States and classified by the U.S. Census Bureau as managers, but not farmers or farm managers.

The following null hypotheses were tested: (a) there are no relationships between leadership style and time since highest degree as tested by chi-square; (b) there are no relationships between leadership style and type of degree as tested by chi-square; and (c) there are no relationships between leadership style and management training experience. All null hypotheses indicated there were no relationships among leadership style, time since last degree, and management training. Supplementary analyses showed that (a) transformational leaders were more likely to be in the older age groups and more likely to be female and (b) transactional leaders and non-leaders were more likely to be male.

Because there are systematic relationships between continuing education and managers' style of leadership, the implications for social change may provide human resource professionals, succession planners, and others with an additional means of evaluating individuals for leadership positions.