Women In Leadership Series - How Women Excel in Leading Change

When it comes to leadership and driving change, women possess some remarkable qualities. A Harvard Business Review study by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman from June 2019 revealed something fascinating: women tend to outperform men in 17 out of 19 leadership competencies. Impressive, right? But there's a catch: women often undervalue themselves and grapple with a confidence gap, especially in their 20s when trying to make their mark in the professional world.

Let's first explore women's leadership strengths:

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Picture this: during turbulent times of change, do you want someone at the helm who can read people's emotions and concerns? Women often shine in this department. They have a knack for understanding and connecting with people's feelings, which is pure gold during change.

Relationship Building and Collaboration: If change were a jigsaw puzzle, women would be the grandmasters. Their ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively is like the glue that holds teams together during tumultuous times.

Resilience and Adaptability: Women have historically faced their share of workplace challenges, and that's toughened them up. They know how to bounce back from adversity and pivot when needed, making them resilient change leaders.

Inclusive Leadership: Women often champion diversity and inclusion, and that's a game-changer during change. Their commitment to hearing different voices leads to more innovative solutions and makes everyone feel valued.

Effective Communication: Clear communication is the lifeboat in the sea of change, and women often have a knack for it. They're skilled at conveying a compelling vision for change and keeping everyone engaged.

Problem-Solving: When faced with complex issues, women bring diverse perspectives and creative problem-solving skills. 

Delegation and Empowerment: Have you ever heard the phrase "teamwork makes the dream work"? Women are often pros at delegating tasks and empowering their team members, making change everyone's responsibility.

Ethical Leadership: Women leaders often prioritize ethics and social responsibility, making their organizations more trustworthy during times of change.

Now, here's the curveball: despite these fantastic strengths, women often suffer from lower self-esteem regarding their leadership abilities. It's like they've got all this gold in their leadership chest, but they're still determining if it's treasure. This confidence gap is especially prevalent in their 20s when they're finding their footing in their careers.

What's causing this gap, you ask?

Societal Expectations: Society often tells women they're not cut out for leadership, which can lead to self-doubt.

Mistaking Confidence for Competence: An everyday bias mistakes confidence for competence. If you don't shout from the rooftops about your skills, they might go unnoticed. Women frequently demonstrate more significant levels of humility when it comes to leadership and a reluctance to self-advocate.

Early-Career Challenges: Young women entering the workforce might grapple with imposter syndrome or navigate male-dominated environments, which can knock their confidence.

Lack of Role Models: When you don't see people who look like you in leadership positions, it can be tough to picture yourself there.

So, how do we bridge this gap and create a more balanced and inclusive leadership world?

Mentorship and Sponsorship: Pairing young women with experienced leaders who can offer guidance and support can work wonders for confidence.

Leadership Training: Tailored leadership development programs can help women gain the necessary skills and confidence.

Diverse Leadership Panels: Let's showcase more women leaders. Visibility goes a long way in boosting confidence.

Challenging Bias: It's high time we challenge biases and evaluate leadership based on merit, not just bravado.

Fostering Inclusivity: Inclusive workplaces where diverse voices are valued can nurture confidence in women leaders.

In a nutshell, women have all the ingredients to be fantastic change leaders. However, the confidence gap and the bias that mixes confidence with competence can trip them up. By addressing these challenges, we can move closer to achieving gender equality in leadership, creating environments where everyone can flourish with a variety of leadership styles. #Leadership #GenderEquality