The movement of women into line school administrative positions has fueled the debate over whether females and males lead in different ways. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the "lived" experience of two female high school principals. Data were collected through observation and indepth interviews. Although the women had different personalities and leadership styles, the following themes emerged: (1) they spent most of their time in brief, unplanned, verbal interactions; (2) they saw themselves as the final authority in their schools, seeking little input from others; and (3) they accepted central-office authority. In conclusion, the leadership styles of the two effective women principals appeared to differ little from those of effective male principals. This raises the question of whether role and the nature of the job are more important determinants of behavior than gender. (LMI)