Introduction
For decades, leadership had proven to be a male-dominated sector with only a few women daring to venture into that world. In the twenty-first century, however, change has manifested as more women have now ventured into leadership and have successfully shown competence in what they do. It is from these now successful women that other women and especially men in leadership can learn a thing or two. This article, therefore, focuses on the lessons that both women and men can learn from women in leadership.
Below are the major attributes that are portrayed by women in leadership and can be emulated by men.
Knowledge of their limitations
Studies have shown that women are less overconfident as compared to men as they differentiate the thin difference between self-belief and self-awareness. Contrary to how insecure women are brought out in self-help literature, women are more critical in analyzing and knowing their flaws and weaknesses. This gives them the ability to know how people view them and make conscious decisions on how to relate with other people. This knowledge of their limitations has helped them to strive and rise above the limitations, becoming an inspiration to others in the process.
Put their people ahead of themselves
Women like Wangari Maathai (a renowned Kenyan social environmental, political activist, and first African woman to win the Nobel Prize) have shown expressed unselfishness by putting their people’s needs ahead of their own. Prof. Maathai, for instance, selflessly devoted herself to plant more trees to better Mother Nature. The love for her people was greater than the challenges she faced such as being sued for creating a recreational park in Nairobi. From this, the attribute of unselfishness is brought out as a great lesson for others to emulate.
Empathy
For decades, women have been judged for being too kind and caring to lead. However, we all go wrong by believing the notion that kindness and concern are a weakness in leadership. Contrary to this notion, these emotions have been used by women in leadership to connect with their people, resulting in implementations of initiatives that have fostered humanity. This is an attribute that men can learn and apply in their leadership.
Humility
For years, we have desired humble leaders like Mother Theresa but all we keep getting is overconfident and narcissistic leaders (not female). It is true that not all women are humble but it is also true that if we were to choose leaders based on humility, most spots would be occupied by women. Women leaders have the humility to acknowledge their mistakes and learn from them, take people’s perspectives into account, and are willing to change and be better. This is a great lesson that can be learned and emulated by men in leadership.
Conclusion
Women in leadership like Amina Mohammed (cabinet secretary for sports, heritage, and culture in Kenya) and Queen Victoria (former queen of United Kingdom) have portrayed exemplary attributes that can and should be emulated by the males in leadership. The above attributes can be a starting point for the emulators.
