Question

Studies of women leaders suggest that many of them view power differently than men do and prefer a collaborative, relationships-oriented use of power. If this is the case, what does it suggest about women leaders' abilities to accomplish goals? What does it suggest about women's ability to rise to higher organizational levels? Discuss.

Answer 1

Studies suggests that women leaders generally follow consideration style of leadership where they give more autonomy to their followers. Some employers are prone to believe that pressure helps their employees thrive, but current research has shown it has the exact opposite effect. Female leaders understand that making the workplace feel safe is critical to success, and that empathy can influence their negotiation style as well.Innovation and creativity have also been found to be dominant traits in female leaders, and are qualities they also encourage in their teams.Female leaders are able to use their emotional sensitivity and communicative strengths to bring teams together and facilitate an open exchange of ideas. Through collaboration, companies are better able to utilize the full potential of their employees, and female leaders have proven to be especially adept at achieving this.They believe in maintaining relationships through trust and cooperation for effective performance. They have the ability to accomplish goals by harnessing the human capital in an efficient manner. They are good listeners and empathize with followers more easily. They are honest and candid in their opinions and generally adopt an ethical approach.

It’s proven that women are better than men on the dimensions of building relationships, this can improve their ability to rise in a collaboration organization. However, I would like to add that their ability to rise to higher levels in an organizations are dubious because modern organizations generally reward tactical and production oriented leaders with higher positions. A consensus-based approach to leadership can hinder the ability to take charge and develop strategic view organization. This may prove to be a hindrance for women as they strive to advance in their careers.