Women are gradually making a leadership presence in different facets of modern life. From administration and education to engineering and health — all at global and national levels — women have resolved to break the traditional glass ceiling barring them from entering leadership positions.
The modern woman is constantly evolving and hitting new milestones across various spectrums of human activity. Women like Theresa May, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey have been at the forefront of challenging the leadership narrative.
What is Leadership?
Leadership is the ability of a group of people, or an individual, to guide and influence members or followers of an organization, team or society. It is often an attribute pegged on to someone according to their ranking in the hierarchy, and their title. Yet, it is an attribute anyone can attain, even without a leadership position. It is a skill that can be developed and improved with time.
We require leaders in most social aspects, including politics, business, social programs and religion. Leaders are tasked with the responsibility of making sound and difficult decisions. They must develop a clear vision, establish clear goals and give followers the tools and knowledge necessary to achieve them.
An effective leader must possess innovative thinking, self-confidence, strong communication and management skills, willingness to take risks, perseverance, open-mindedness and level headedness. In business, people with leadership qualities can rise to executive positions such as president or CEO.
What Is the Importance of Leadership?
Leadership is the crux of the success of businesses and organizations. Entities depend on successful leaders to convey their goals, vision and mission. They unite other parties, employees and team members to achieve these goals. These capabilities come in handy, especially in moments of crisis.
For any enterprise to succeed, hard decision making is vital. Businesses depend on leaders with high emotional intelligence and competencies to solve problems and make tough decisions. The success of these decisions often results in productive and positive work environments that encourage employee wellbeing, teamwork and excellent work cultures that attract top talent.
Strong leadership can improve an organization’s competitiveness by driving innovation and change. The best leaders will promote new ideas, make changes that adapt to industry requirements and bring in innovative thinkers with whom they can work.
What Are the Characteristics of Women’s Leadership?
It is best to note that leadership is not specific to any gender. It is a set of inherent or cultivated qualities in a person or people who develop into great leaders with a significant following. Although skills related to leadership are acquired and displayed by women and men, there are some general differences in qualities and traits possessed by each.
Transformational style of leadership
In many cases, women leaders are more transformational than men leaders. They are better when it comes to acting as models to their subordinates. Most women leaders spending time with their teams, coaching them and inspiring them.
They put a lot of emphasis on teamwork and authentic communication, which is the key to their success. For most leaders, leadership is for accomplishing goals within the organization and making their followers better individuals.
Focused on tasks
Women leaders are task-oriented and mostly focus on tasks assigned within deadlines. From the viewpoint of operations, the timely completion of tasks is necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of the company.
Promotion of collaboration and cooperation
Cooperating and collaborating with others is a mainly feminine characteristic. Women in leadership are always at the forefront of promoting collaboration among members of their teams. They ensure that the roles of each member are clear to avoid redundancies and promote efficiency.
Create collegial atmosphere
Women in leadership prefer creating and leading flat organizational structures that allow everyone to work interdependently in a collegial environment. These structures need to include the knowledge and experience of managers and seasoned employees. Women leaders will often be critical of these hierarchical structures.
Modesty
Unlike men in leadership, women are often silent and modest about their accomplishments. Rarely are they good at branding themselves. But women must brand themselves by sharing their experiences and skills with others. People need to notice or know what these women can achieve to continue downplaying the leadership qualities of women leaders.
Democratic leadership style
Women tend to have a participatory, democratic leadership style. They are against the commanding and controlling style often exhibited by males. Women leaders often communicate their expectations of a task and allow more space to accomplish a goal.
This enables team members to utilize their skills to complete a task without much interference. However, this can sometimes be a drawback if it is a task that requires a leader to communicate directly with the members.
Valuing work-life balance
We all know how taxing leadership roles can be. The ability to balance professional and leadership skills separates women leaders from their male counterparts. It can be easier to go to a woman with a sensitive question or personal request. They care about their team’s wellbeing, which encompasses their performance at work and their work-life balance.
Excellent at multitasking
Another characteristic of women leaders that makes them great is their multitasking ability. This ability to respond to simultaneous and different tasks or problems at a time is one of the critical aspects of true leadership.
Better crisis handlers
Most women, especially mothers, are trained caretakers and understand how to deal with crises at home with patience and compassion. These attributes become very relevant when a leader is handling crises. Whether it is related to HR or clients, they handle such cases much better.
How Women Can Improve Their Leadership Skills
Women in leadership positions frequently confront difficulties. They must constantly improve their leadership abilities to succeed in these roles. Below are various tactics that women can use to develop their leadership abilities.
Look for networking and mentoring opportunities
Networking and mentoring are important components of leadership development. Mentorship from seasoned leaders, both inside and outside their organizations, should be actively sought out by women.
Mentors offer support, direction and insightful advice based on their experiences. They can assist women in overcoming obstacles, growing their professional networks, and gaining self-assurance. Peer networking is equally vital since it enables women to benefit from others’ experiences, be exposed to various leadership philosophies, and create long-lasting relationships.
Support ongoing education
An ongoing commitment to learning is necessary for effective leadership. Women should seize chances for career advancement and make investments in their development. Attending conferences, workshops, and seminars — both in-person and online — offers opportunities for knowledge expansion, acquiring new leadership skills and keeping abreast of market trends.
One great program women in leadership can pursue is the MA in leadership at St. Bonaventure University. The course allows women to develop their existing skills, make an impact, and develop professionally. They will join other graduates in becoming better managers and servant leaders who think strategically, empowering others to fulfill their potential.
Enhance one’s emotional quotient
For a leader to be successful, emotional intelligence is a vital competency. To better understand and control their emotions and navigate interpersonal relationships, women should increase their emotional intelligence.
The cornerstone of emotional intelligence is self-awareness, which enables leaders to identify their emotions, assets and liabilities. Active listening and empathy are crucial to cultivating great relationships with team members and stakeholders. Building trust and rapport among teams requires open and honest communication and the ability to handle disagreements.
Develop a growth mindset
Continuous leadership innovation and improvement require a growth mentality. Women in leadership positions should have confidence in their capacity to overcome obstacles and adapt to changing circumstances.
Adopting a growth mindset enables leaders to see setbacks as chances for improvement and promotes a culture of learning among their people. Leaders with a growth mindset take a resilient approach to difficulties, look for creative solutions and motivate their staff to welcome change and improvement.
Promote inclusion and diversity
In addition to being ethical, fostering diversity and inclusion at work improves leadership effectiveness. Women leaders should actively encourage diversity and inclusion by building an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated, seeking out and supporting unique talent and encouraging diverse opinions.
Accepting diversity improves teamwork, innovation and problem solving, which produces better results and boosts organizational success.
Develop powerful communication techniques
An essential component of good leadership is effective communication. Women in leadership positions should always hone their verbal and nonverbal communication abilities. Communication is clear and simple when expectations are understood, goals are aligned and feedback is given constructively.
Equally crucial is active listening, which builds trust, shows respect and helps leaders better comprehend the requirements and worries of their teams. Women who excel in communication may encourage and inspire their employees, promote cooperation and effect good change.
Manage risks and welcome challenges
Growing as a leader requires taking strategic risks and embracing challenges. Women should be prepared to leave their comfort zones, look for new opportunities and take on difficult tasks.
Women can develop their resilience, broaden their skill set and show their leadership potential by rising to adversity. Risk-taking leaders inspire trust in their people and foster an environment conducive to innovation and growth.
Create a helpful network
A strong network of allies is crucial for women in leadership positions. Being surrounded by like-minded people who have faith in their abilities and offer support and encouragement is vital.
A strong support network can be developed by connecting with other leaders and partaking in leadership development programs, networking events and professional organizations. To develop a feeling of community and exchange experiences and insights, women might also look for peer support groups or start mentorship circles.
Importance of women’s leadership
The topic of women in leadership has gained importance in today’s society. Its importance must be addressed as more and more women break down barriers and take on significant responsibilities in various industries.
Here, we’ll examine the importance of women in leadership and how it promotes creativity, encourages change and has a positive effect on people, businesses and society.
Motivating future generations
Beyond the immediate effects it has on businesses, the importance of women in leadership is significant. Future generations of aspirant female leaders look up to women in leadership positions as role models.
Observing women in leadership positions motivates other women and girls to pursue their aspirations for leadership — challenging gender norms and dismantling barriers. By demonstrating that gender should not be a barrier to achieving leadership success, more women in leadership positions contribute to developing a more equal and inclusive society.
Achieving better team performance by using diversity
Research shows that diversified leadership teams perform better, including those with female executives. Women frequently provide inclusive leadership philosophies that promote teamwork, imagination and innovation.
They may promote a more inclusive workplace and boost team performance by utilizing team members’ different perspectives and skills. Moreover, they establish environments where everyone’s opinions are respected, boosting worker engagement, productivity and organizational success.
Driving success through organizational performance and innovation
Beyond team dynamics, female leadership can affect organizational performance and innovation. Businesses with gender-diverse leadership teams typically perform better than their competitors. According to studies, businesses with more women in leadership positions see larger financial gains, greater profitability and more innovation.
Women leaders contribute to the success of organizations by bringing new perspectives, alternative methods of problem solving, and strong decision-making abilities. They promote unconventional thinking, question the status quo, and promote creativity by embracing various viewpoints.
Creating inclusive workplaces
Strong interpersonal skills, empathy and active listening are frequently displayed by female leaders. This fosters a welcoming and inclusive workplace. These leadership traits help to increase worker happiness, retention and engagement.
When women hold leadership positions, they create laws and procedures that support gender equality, work-life balance and equal opportunity for professional advancement. Women leaders inspire and encourage their teams by building an environment of respect and inclusivity, which raises employee engagement and satisfaction levels.
Fostering connection and trust
Women in leadership positions often have a special talent for improving stakeholder and customer interactions. They can connect with various audiences thanks to their emphasis on developing trust, empathy and effective communication.
Women have a comprehensive awareness of the many demands and viewpoints of customers, which improves customer experiences, and more precisely targets marketing initiatives and increases stakeholder participation. This contributes to the organization’s long-term performance and reputation by establishing genuine and lasting relationships.
How Women Are Breaking Stereotypes
Women are defying gender norms and assuming leadership roles in various ways, showcasing their abilities and removing barriers. Here are some notable ways in which women are overcoming gender norms and taking leadership positions:
- Ambition and career aspirations: Women increasingly express their aspirations and choose career paths historically controlled by men. They actively pursue leadership chances, set high standards and try to achieve them. These leaders are demonstrating that gender should not be a barrier to professional achievement by debunking the myth that women are less ambitious or not suitable for leadership.
- Breaking the glass ceiling: Female leaders are breaking through the glass ceiling that has traditionally prevented them from obtaining senior leadership roles. They are moving up the corporate ladder, taking on senior positions and successfully leading enterprises. Women are challenging the idea that leadership is solely a male domain by achieving the highest levels of leadership.
- Skills and competencies: Women are demonstrating their abilities in various sectors, refuting the myth that some leadership traits are reserved only for men. They are displaying their capacity for strategic thought, problem solving and decision making. Women leaders demonstrate that effective leadership is driven by individual qualities and experience rather than being restricted to particular gender features.
- Confidence and assertiveness: Women act with increased self-assurance and assertiveness in leadership positions. They embrace their distinctive leadership philosophies, which might not align with conventional macho models. Leaders are great communicators who have a sense of self-assurance in their skills and ability. By acting confidently, they defy gender stereotypes that portray women as passive or excessively accommodating.
- Mentorship and sponsorship: Female leaders actively participate in mentorship and sponsorship programs that help develop the upcoming generation of women leaders. They know how critical it is to give aspirant women leaders direction, counsel and chances to flourish. Women leaders are changing the cycle of underrepresentation by mentoring and supporting outstanding women who are prepared to assume leadership roles.
- Promoting gender equality: Women in leadership positions strongly support gender equality at work and elsewhere. They challenge institutional hurdles obstructing women’s advancement by speaking out against gender biases and injustices. In addition, they foster a more inclusive and equitable society by promoting equal opportunities, pay and supportive policies.
Final Thoughts
To address the gender imbalance in society, women’s leadership is essential. Women are challenging ingrained gender stereotypes, eliminating gender biases and fostering more accepting environments by shattering glass ceilings and taking on leadership positions. In their organizations and society, women leaders can push for laws and procedures that advance gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Their example inspires others to challenge gender norms and work towards a more equitable future, acting as a catalyst for change.