Women think
about where there is potential and how to develop it, they combine forces in
teams for the good of a project and the people involved. Feminine leadership
traits are increasingly perceived as valuable and many companies have already
acknowledged that having women, who focus on the people, in executive ranks is
a definite asset for the company. It may even be the only way to survive!
Many studies have examined the existence and meaning of feminine leadership
traits. One of the most interesting surveys was carried out by the management
consulting firm "System und Kommunikation" based in Munich. They came
to the conclusion that:
1. Women focus on the task at hand, men on the role and position
Men see taking on a leadership role as a turning point in their work
history. The changeover to a management position is associated with a
completely new orientation, almost like a new job with new contents and
tasks. Women, on the other hand, see leadership in a totally different
light: For them it is a question of performing their job as best
possible. Leadership is always strongly dependent on each assignment,
so it is a function of the job. Women don't perceive leadership as a
"role" which they can fulfill, whatever the associated content. While
men jump from one management post to the next or from one industry to
the next, women keep to their tasks and content and build on them. In a
team, with their employees, they are oriented towards the individual
development possibilities and business.
2. Women organize their career according to tasks, men are geared to advancement opportunitiesFor women what matters is if a task is interesting, exciting and makes
sense. The position within a company's hierarchy is what counts for
men. Women focus on what has to be done while men ask themselves "what
do I get from this?". Women don't like to remain in a dull but
well-paid job. Men tend to sit problems out if it is connected with a
career advancement. Women want to do a job which makes sense and
achieve quality results. Men focus on quantities and see their role as
leader closely linked to a gratification system - whoever does
something good comes first. Therefore, men have by nature a problem
with flat hierarchical structures. They need reference points: where
are they positioned at present and what are their career advancement
prospects. Women prefer a flat hierarchical structure because the job
is of greater importance than the position.
3. Women are at the center, men stand at the topIn a company which is organized according to the pyramid principle,
women are rarely at the top. Contrary to men who put all their chances
towards advancing in their career, women are usually organized in
teams. Positioned in the centre of a circle including all those working
together. That's not all, they specifically seek dialog at all levels
of hierarchy while men prefer to stay together and exchange with people
from the same level. This "feminine" strategy encourages true
communication during project meetings contrary to the coordination and
reporting methods implemented in a traditional hierarchical structure.
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