Gender and leadership: When it comes to leaders, the criteria applied is not the same for men and women

By Rithu Dravid

Men and women may differ in degree and not in type when it comes to leading, which may make their leadership styles unique. It is quite challenging for any boss, irrespective of gender, to keep up to expectations under stress.

A strong and compassionate leadership and the ability to inspire team members make a good boss. A good manager is tuned into the needs of the tasks and the team. But what makes a leader earn this tag? Is it just the respect that comes with the title? Keeping a fine balance between employee’s needs and requirements, business goals, and their well-being, and aspirations are the qualities of a good manager.

Helping employees unlock untapped potentials paves the way for good bosses to be successful. This focus helps leaders manage or identify their leadership qualities by aligning with their competencies, thereby learning - how to manage their strengths, weaknesses, and unconscious motivations and biases.

Contrary to popular belief, a strong, independent woman boss isn’t afraid to speak her mind, dream big and defend her rights. Personal experiences or highlighting positive qualities about bosses effectively reveal information about their work-style. Deciding who an ideal boss could be is more about traits than gender. “My boss is very sympathetic towards her team members, thereby establishing strong connections with us. She reacts very optimistically towards sensitive issues without being biased,” says Lavanya.

Often people tend to attribute leadership success to some external factors rather than internal attributes, like gender, and avoid placing women in leadership positions. But often a female boss is more likely to understand specific workplace issues and respond to a situation sensitively. For employees like Gomathi, a female boss is an advantage and says, “My boss gives me the confidence to deal with the daily work-life challenges at the office. The bonding and mutual respect we have has kept us so pally – and I say this from my experience.”

Modern-day women juggle everything, from a demanding job to running a house, and also finding the time to catch up with her besties. A woman in charge goes through the same daily struggles, when it comes to managing her life and balancing work life.

For an inclusive work environment, an organisation needs to train and sensitise its leaders in the right way and promote a culture of objectivity across the board. A good boss paves the way for futuristic dynamic leaders. “My boss was always open to ideas and opinions of the team members, the regular brainstorming sessions with our boss makes us more confident,” says Madhu. Such exhaustive communication and discussions send a clear message by showing complete faith in each individual and to the team as a whole. Thus creating a positive vibe and being more relatable, kind and generous towards the team members.

Uplifting the spirits of the team, bringing out a sense of accomplishment is an effective quality of leadership. “While the entire blame for project failure is placed on the manager, the credit for its success is often given to the whole team,” says Anjali. Descriptors like ambitious, caring, loyal, competent, forward looking tend to be associated with both genders.

No one is perfect, including bosses. Employees yearn for good bosses. A compassionate boss is without a doubt, is one of the best incentives for a happy team. Nevertheless, the description of an ideal boss seems quite reasonable. It is the positive aspects of character that are typically appreciated in each type of work culture. “At the end of the day -- ‘Thank you, I could not have done it without you’ -- is a gratifying feeling that you take home,” says Umair. Therefore, such words of appreciation for a job holder will help craft the employees, which will fuel their growth.

SHEDERSHIP
Being a female boss is not about being the male version of authority. Bring a standard of equality and inclusiveness in the workspace by following these simple tips

1. Treat your staff as you would your friends: A study of almost 7,000 managers across 38 countries found that those who showed more empathy were viewed as better managers

2. Learn to be yourself, and not channel male behaviours intentionally: When you’re in a managerial position, you may think you have to be tough, impersonal and authoritative much like the classic male boss.

3. Banish a sense of hierarchy: The best managers learn to lead through the influence that comes from building collaboration rather than competition.

4. Share information with your team: Communication is really important. Be proactive and create an expecta