Dare to Lead Like a Girl

Women leaders should use an empathetic, feminine approach based on the “5P model” of leadership: “Purpose, power up, perspective, people and positivity.”

Obsolete notions about gender still cause many people to assume automatically that leaders should act assertively and impersonally. They believe effective leadership means embodying such traits, which are typically labeled as masculine qualities. This is not surprising, because historically most leaders have been men, and many of them have taken an emotionally cold approach to leadership. 

The value that society places on the boss with the “iron fist” has led to a workplace crisis. Employees are unhappy when their supervisors fail to treat them as individual human beings. Such resentment has led to an increase in harassment, bullying and toxic work environments. 

The time has come to re-evaluate which qualities make sound leaders and to appreciate leadership traits that people more often associate with feminity. 

Sadly, many people view the qualities typically associated with women – such as empathy, compassion and...