In a study conducted by Caliper, a Princeton-based management consulting firm, women leaders were found to be more flexible, as well as stronger in interpersonal skills than their male counterparts. While male leaders demonstrate a commendable level of empathy, flexibility, sociability, and urgency, women leaders scored significantly higher in these areas. Leaders of both genders share well above average levels of abstract reasoning and idea orientation. Interestingly, women leaders were lower than their male counterparts in thoroughness. The Caliper study provided the following four findings regarding women in leadership.

Women leaders are more persuasive than their male counterparts.
Women leaders scored significantly higher than male leaders in ego-drive (persuasive motivation), assertiveness, willingness to take risks, empathy, urgency, flexibility, and sociability. Strong people skills possessed by women leaders enable them to read situations accurately and take in information from all sides, enhancing persuasive ability.

Women can zero in on someone's objections or concerns, weigh them appropriately, address them effectively, and incorporate them into the grander scheme. They can do this because they genuinely understand and care about where others are coming from. This allows them to relate to their audience's perspective, and to make them feel more understood and supported.

Women, feeling the sting of rejection and learning from adversity, carry on with an "I'll show you attitude."
Women leaders are in the mid-range on egodrive. But, women possess stronger interpersonal skills (empathy, flexibility, and sociability) and are more assertive than their male counterparts.

It's all about confidence and helping women believe they can do whatever they want to do. They don't have to change in order to be successful. When a woman has the talent and ambition to move ahead, but receives signals that others think she will not make the grade, it may fuel her ambition further.

Women have an inclusive, teambuilding leadership style for problem solving and decision making.
Women leaders are more interested in hearing all points of view than in making the best possible decision. The final decision does not necessarily have to be their initial point of view. They read situations accurately and take in information from all possible sides, then make the most informed decision possible. The difference in leadership styles between men and women begins with listening. Because women leaders are willing to share information, they also talk decisions through with more people, whereas their male counterparts don't share information as willingly.

Women leaders are more likely to ignore rules and take risks.
Women leaders score lower than male leaders in adhering to established procedures. Women were also significantly higher in levels of urgency and risk taking, with very high scores in abstract reasoning. Women leaders are more likely to push back when overly bound by regulations and rules, to engage in more risk taking, and to come up with innovative solutions. They tend to have a greater need to get things done than male leaders.

Women leaders are less interested in what has been than in what can be. They will run the risk of being wrong in order to get things done. With fine abstract reasoning skills, women learn from their mistakes and move on.

For every leader, there is a management style. Leaders may be assertive or autocratic; they may coach, direct, support, be task oriented, or team-based. Whatever the style, it should provide structure and support for each situation. Each style is unique in terms of how a leader communicates, sets goals, makes decisions, monitors progress, and recognizes good performance.

As organizations change and develop, different patterns of leadership are required. For example, when conflict occurs, leadership requires patience and listening. At another time, the leader must take charge and instruct to help a team form around a project. In order to progress toward shared leadership, leaders need to pay attention to patterns of change in their organizations at the same time they become more aware of their own capacity for leadership.

The definition of leadership is not absolute; it is in its developmental stages. And what makes a woman leader is also not certain or well defined. Leadership is both action and being. Leadership empowers, motivates, and organizes people to achieve a common objective and provides moral guidance. It is important to discuss what leadership is, but it is also important to know what leadership is not.

A leader should be a few steps ahead of her team, but not too far ahead for the team to be able to understand and follow.

Beth Donahue, MH, is a counselor and hypnotherapist in private practice. She also provides corporate wellness programs and workshops and can be reached at (505) 248-9700 or at WorkExcellence@aol.com.