Despite decades of advocating for gender equality and addressing the wage gap, there's still a significant lack of women in leadership roles. Companies with higher representation of women on their boards tend to perform better. Studies highlight that organizations, especially those with greater gender diversity among senior leaders, are more profitable. This underscores the urgent need for more female leaders, urging organizations to take responsibility for creating improved policies and opportunities.
Does Gender Matter in Leadership?
According to the public, certain traits stand out as particularly important. Intelligence and decisiveness are deemed "absolutely essential" leadership qualities by at least eight in ten adults. About two-thirds of adults (67%) consider being organized as essential, while slightly smaller percentages believe that compassion (57%), innovation (56%), or ambition (53%) are crucial for effective leadership.
More considerable differences between genders arise when considering less crucial traits. Women express a much higher preference for compassion in a leader, with 66% believing it essential, compared to 47% of men. Additionally, women value innovation more, with 61% deeming it necessary, compared to 51% of men.
One Habit that Sets Women Apart in the Room: Preparedness
Studies indicate that women are more prone than men to adopt perfectionist tendencies such as over-preparing and over-delivering at work. New research suggests this behavior can give female employees a lasting advantage when employed strategically.
Professors Margarethe Wiersema from UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and Marie Louise Mors from the Copenhagen Business School interviewed directors from over 200 publicly traded companies on major U.S. and European stock exchanges. They aimed to understand how the presence of women affects board decisions.
More than men, women tended to ask in-depth questions and admit when they didn't know something, leading to more thorough and honest discussions. One essential habit that women often practiced, highlighted by Wiersema, was their exceptional preparedness, which had an "invaluable" impact on their careers and board work. The study noted that women's preparedness and thoughtful questions improved discussions and motivated colleagues to be more informed before meetings. This level of preparation extends to female employees outside corporate boards, positively influencing the dynamics. Being well-prepared boosts confidence, encouraging active participation and valuable contributions in meetings, positively impacting one's career.
Weighing Perfectionism in Leadership
Perfectionist leadership is neither inherently good nor bad. It can turn negative if it becomes destructive, but mature perfectionist leaders can be effective and successful.
Leadership coaching can guide leaders in navigating the challenges of perfectionism. In everyday life, we often see perfectionism as unfavorable, linked to self-destructive behaviors. Leadership styles vary; no leader is a perfectionist, driver, or arbitrator. Instead, leaders may possess a dominant perfectionist trait based on their tendencies and characteristics.
Particularly for women who need to work extra hard for recognition, this can lead to being stereotyped as the "worker bee." To overcome this, women must focus on preparing for crucial conversations and assignments that can advance their careers. Being well-prepared makes a strong impression and builds trust and confidence, opening doors to leadership and promotion opportunities. Ultimately, being the most prepared person in the room benefits everyone and is a valuable leadership quality.
