Women in Leadership - Characteristics, Reasons Women Make Great Leaders, Challenges & Examples
Women in Leadership roles refer to the females occupying the top position in business, health, engineering, education, administration, entrepreneurship and politics Women in Leadership roles have the necessary talent, knowledge, skill, and zeal to make their presence felt at global, national, and regional levels Characteristic of Women Leadership Transformational Leadership Style Women leaders act as role models as they easily inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Focus on Tasks More focused than men as they realize the value of completing tasks within deadlines for smooth functioning. Work in a collaborative environment Women leaders promote collaborative environments where every member is aware of his role. Encourage Collegiality and Cooperation Women leaders prefer flat organizational structure and cooperation amongst team members. Communication Style Women leaders have a democratic style where they communicate their expectations and offer the necessary space to complete it. Women’s Power Index - Out of 123 countries, 22 of them have a female head of state or government. - Only 13 countries have at least 50% women in the national cabinet. Reasons Women Make Great Leaders - Easily achieve work-life balance. - Women are more empathetic and can understand the importance of leadership. - They are good listeners and hear others out even if they agree or disagree. - Are good at multitasking and can respond to several issues at one time. - Women are innovative, creative and driven by challenges. - Keep their ego in check. - Women are emotionally intelligent than men. Challenges Faced by Women Leaders - Women have to tackle internal and external issues if they want to implement their vision and goals. - Women can find it challenging to create strategic relationships and beneficial alliances with other men. - Women have to face gender bias and inequality even at the top. - Strong women are often looked at in negative light by men. Women and Glass Ceiling 1. Kamala Harris Women’s Leadership Styles Transformational Leadership Style The Transformational Leadership Style helps women to share objectives, promote teamwork and boost morale. Servant Leadership Style In the Servant Leadership Style, priority is given to the employees and their welfare. Women in Leadership – Examples 1. Condoleezza Rice 2. Indra Nooyi 3. Michelle Obama 4. Angela Merkel