Recent studies were conducted to compare the effectiveness of men and women’s leadership skill, and the results challenge our reality. Women were found to be equally capable as men in leadership positions and significantly more successful in some areas. This article focuses on the leadership lessons men should learn from women.
Leadership lessons men should learn from women
- Better listening
Listening is one of the most important leadership trait for any leader in today’s business environment. While this can be difficult for many men, they should learn this from their female counterparts. Most women have better listening skills than men do. They should learn listening skills from women to help understand how all the different pieces and events fit together.
This is through asking questions, listening to the content, and feeling of the responses.
- Thinking more holistically
Women always want to look at the bigger picture or consider options when it comes to a problem that needs a solution unlike some cases of men who get frustrated. Surveys show that considering a broader perspective often leads to a better solutions and avoids potential problems.
We should have a more holistic perspective as it is important leadership strength.
- Empathy
Women have been recognized for their ability to acknowledge different perspectives. They have been known for their compassion and kindness unlike men. This quality is sometimes assumed to appear as a weakness, many assumed women were not as learned or experienced to take the lead. It has come to be seen as the total opposite.
Empathy allows teams to build deeper connections, understanding, and trust in both team dynamics and relations.
- Purposeful motivation
Women inspire team members with the prospect of the purpose of their work whereas men motivate through promise of promotions, raises in money or discounts. Transformational leadership is growing and women seem to be well aligned to promote team members’ spirits and behaviors.
Men should try to win people’s hearts and nurturing a change in beliefs rather than the behaviors, they would be better leaders.
Conclusion
The natural behaviors of both men and women maybe just assumptions and do not hold true for each individual. Women have been found to have behaviors that all genders can learn and grow from. Men have their accomplishments but women’s growing acceptance will benefit the workplace of the future.
