What Women Know about Leadership that Men Don’t

From the HBR Blog Network:

What Women Know about Leadership that Men Don’t

http://blogs.hbr.org/schwartz/2012/10/what-women-know-that-men-dont.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+harvardbusiness+%28HBR.org%29

Pullquotes:

“An effective modern leader requires a blend of intellectual qualities — the ability to think analytically, strategically and creatively — and emotional ones, including self-awareness, empathy, and humility. In short, great leadership begins with being a whole human being.  I meet far more women with this blend of qualities than I do men, and especially so when it comes to emotional and social intelligence.”

“That’s scarcely just my own view. In March, Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman reported here on their study of 7300 leaders who got rated by their peers, supervisors and direct reports. Women scored higher in 12 of 16 key skills — not just developing others, building relationships, collaborating, and practicing self development, but also taking initiative, driving for results and solving problems and analyzing issues.”

“We need more male leaders with the courage to stand down, comfortably acknowledge their shortcomings, and help those they lead feel safe and appreciated rather than fearful and inadequate. We need more women with the courage to step up, fully own their strengths, and lead with confidence and resolve while also holding on to their humanity and their humility.  We need a new generation of leaders — men and women — who willingly embrace their opposites.”

Stephen