Despite all the globalization, Internet revolution, and other business advancements, women are still considered inferior to men in regards to business leadership roles. For example, within Fortune 500 companies, women fill only 14% of boardroom seats. Furthermore, women currently occupy 47% of the United State’s workforce, yet comprise only 24% of leading industries like Science, Education, Technology and Mathematics.
Naturally, this disparity often results in men incorrectly considering themselves better than their female counterparts. This type of thinking needs to end. Now.
It’s Not Just About Numbers
The reason behind batting for women leaders is not solely an equality issue – having women leaders also good business. When compared to organizations with few female leaders, firms with a higher amount of women leaders tend to fare well in business areas such as performance, science and innovation and sales & profit.
In fact, a study conducted by the business research firm The Conference Board, found that companies performing the best financially have the highest number of women leaders.
Excellent Communicators and EQ
Females often possess higher emotional quotients (EQ) than their male counterparts. Multiple studies have found that EQ plays a huge part in managerial and overall company success.
Women also have been found to have higher level communication skills. As most leaders know, businesses often rely on skilled communicators to stay ahead of the competition.
Women Take More, Better Calculated Risks
Before I even start, please know that this is not advocating against taking risks. Naturally, for a business to grow, exposure to risks is vital. But that doesn’t mean jumping at every opportunity that comes along. Women understand this and thus are more calculative, taking risks only when they’re confident in expected outcomes. As a result, financial meltdowns and corporate bubbles are less likely to burst.
Knowledge Seekers
Most women love seeking knowledge whenever and wherever they can. When offered a platform to express themselves, women don’t shy away from raising concerns or doubts. Women are also naturally curious and more open to adopting fresh approaches and ideals.
Despite their high levels of curiosity, women also tend to exercise skepticism, as they are aware of not being taken advantage of or fooled. Women leaders don’t trust people too easily. They invest themselves into learning more about the individual before putting forward their endorsement. As a result, illegitimate or fake opportunities don’t easily get their positive nods. Men, on the other hand, mostly take things at face value and hurry up with their decisions, putting introspection at the back seat.
Practical Leaders
Most women bosses and mentors are smitten by practicality. They love a challenge and are eager to locate purpose and meaning from every circumstance and opportunity. Women have been found to be more emotionally unattached than men (due to male’s bravado), so when making critical decisions they are much more likely to thoroughly examine figures and facts.
Confidence and Integrity
Successful female leaders do not depend on favors; they believe they can prosper only if they dedicate themselves to the job and its stakeholders. Great team players, women also strive to prove their self-worth and mettle by performing beyond expectations. Most women value respect more than recognition. Successful women leaders are not keen on being a star performer – but they propel others to put together a great outcome. Simply put, spotlight doesn’t grab their fancy – the ability to make positive changes with the highest impact is what drives them.
Fighters
Women leaders recognize the importance of being able to survive, renew and reinvent. They are gritty enough to battle for their beliefs and grab the right opportunities. They stick by their thoughts, but that does not mean they wouldn’t test their ideals and ideas. For women, increasing performance with the least resources is only a matter of strategically activating the people around them.
Strategic and Forward-Thinking
Women often see what most others do not. A woman’s natural tendency to be skeptical of things lets her see much beyond the obvious details laid in front. Thus, successful female leaders not only play games when needed, they also anticipate the unexpected – they know their cards and time their moves accordingly.
As you can see, women possess plenty of great leadership qualities, as well as a wide variety of business skills. Considering this, there is not a logical reason as to why there still is a gender gap in so many important employment industries. Looking back at history, it is obvious that our society is heading in the right direction, we just aren’t heading there fast enough.
By Ryan Ayers
Source: Business2Community
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