The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between the nursing performance of staff nurses and the leadership styles of head as perceived by the head nurses and the staff nurses. The subject consisted of 33 head nurses and 200 staff nurses who were working at SNUH between July 1, and July 31, 1991. Leadership styles as perceived by head nurses and staff nurses were measured using an instrument adapted by Park (1988) . Evaluations of the nursing performance of staff nurses were done by head nurses utilizing a questionnaire adopted by Park(1988). Data were analysed using percentage distribution, ANOVA, Scheffe test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The majority of the head nurses and staff nurses perceived the head nurse as having a tendency to exercise high level authority and benevolence oriented leadership. 2. The majority of the staff nurses carried out their nursing performance in a highly skilled manner. 3. There were significant differences in perceptions of leadership style between head nurses and staff nurses. 4. “Authority” and “Benevolence” in leadership style as perceived by the head nurses were related very weakly to the nursing performance of the staff nurse. 5. “Benevolence” of leadership style as perceived by the staff nurses was related very weakly to the nursing performance of the staff nurse. 6. Group comparisons of nursing performance and leadership style found that high nursing performance by the staff nurse was related in the group with high “Authority” as perceived by the head nurse and low “Authority” as perceived by the staff nurse. From the above findings, this study suggests the following : 1) Further studies are needed to control extraneous variables. 2) Efforts in leadership development are needed to enhance nursing performance. 3) Factor exploration study are needed to seek factors that contribute to the perception gap between the head nurse and the staff nurse.