Have you ever wondered why we do not have many women in leadership positions today?

While the world speaks of gender equality and support for women, how many leadership positions do women actually get to explore when it comes to real-life scenarios?

Despite the progress we have made, women struggle every day to reach the leadership position that a man can reach with ease.

Is it really because women are incapable of handling leadership positions? Or is it because the world has framed them to be fragile?

Whatever the reason, women do not get the exposure that they actually deserve despite having the same skills or knowledge, just like everyone else out there.

It saddens me to think how much better the world would be if more women were to lead. If you are just as curious as I am, I have some treats for you.

In this article, we will dig in deep to explore why women in leadership positions are the best thing to happen to mankind.

Women In Leadership: The Power Of Women As Leaders

What happens when women lead? Well, everything that happens now – just better. This is not a comparison between the leading techniques of a man and a woman. It only justifies that women have the capabilities to be way more organized and deal with things better than they are now.

So, let us see some of the characteristics of how women in leadership would be:

Emotional Intelligence

We women ace in one thing – emotional intelligence.

Women leaders are excellent when it comes to emotional intelligence. They understand and manage emotions very effectively. This characteristic allows them to communicate through the most complicated interpersonal relationships and nurture a healthy work environment. It also allows them to make decisions laced with empathy that resonates well with the team.

Collaborative Approaches

Women are the empresses of collaboration. If there is a woman, there has to be collaboration. Companies that have a gender-diverse approach have a 25 percent chance of witnessing more than average profits. Women in leadership positions tend to like teamwork. They prefer getting inputs from various perspectives. The decisions they make are, therefore, way more structured and diverse.

Effective Communication

While some may call it an oxymoron, women in leadership positions do prefer communicating over anything else. Communication is a very strong characteristic that comes when women take over leadership positions.

They are the best at giving ideas, active listening, and having an open dialogue with their team. This communication ability nurtures a supportive and transparent work culture.

Strong Resilience

Women leaders generally prove a higher degree of resilience. In the face of change and challenges, they are amazing at piloting uncertainties, adjusting to new strategies, and maintaining a futuristic approach.

Empowering Others

When women are empowered, they come up with more empowerment strategies to empower other women. They take charge of mentorship programs and give opportunities to their team members to excel. By nurturing an empowerment culture, women leaders are best at contributing to the professional growth and self-confidence of the ones around them.

Women In Leadership: Challenges

So, you thought it was that easy for women to get through it? Well, let me break the bubble. It is no news that women are being dragged through the mud every day. Their skills and qualities are put into question, and the world is not really prepared to see women in leadership positions.

These challenges very openly portray how much gender disparity is still practiced in the professional spectrum. Here are the five most common challenges that women in leadership positions face.

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is one of the most common and yet most unresolved challenges that women face to this date. On average, women earn around 82 cents for each dollar that their male halves earn. This pay disparity not only has an impact on the financial stability of an individual but also extends other systematic gender inequalities. Eliminating this gap is not just about being fair. It is also about making sure that every woman gets equal financial advancement chances.

Biases And Stereotypes

Biases and stereotypes are responsible for shaping the idea of women in leadership. Studies claim that women in leadership are sometimes called “bossy” when they display any degree of assertiveness. However, these very qualities in men are considered to be “leadership qualities.”

These biases deter the progression of women into leadership positions.

Limited Role Models

We do not really have a lot of women in leadership positions to idealize women leaders. This kind of underrepresentation is one of the key reasons for the gap in mentoring opportunities. This makes it pretty difficult for other women to imagine and pursue leading roles.

Struggles in Life Balance

The entire struggle to balance personal life and work life is a big challenge for women. This juggling habit easily hampers advancing opportunities for women and further promotes the glass ceiling effect. The glass ceiling effect is an invisible barrier that stops women or any other minority community from advancing to the topmost positions in their workplace.

Underrepresentation In Decision Making

Women are generally not considered important when it comes to the decision-making processes. In the United States, women comprise only 27 percent of all senior managers and executives. This gap in representation may lead to decisions that do not have the experiences and perspectives that women may bring to the table. Promoting gender diversity in leadership positions and developing inclusive decision-making processes is important for innovation and better outcomes.

Why We Need More Women In Leadership Positions: The Evidence

All this debate and every justification just comes down to one thing – why do we need more women in leadership positions?

The reason is not just fairness towards women. It is also about recognizing the untouched potential that female leadership brings to the table.

As per multiple studies, having more women in leadership positions benefits society and the organization at the end of the day.

Innovation And Creativity

Teams that have gender diversity in them are way more innovative than others. Women are experts in bringing multiple perspectives along with problem-solving approaches. They nurture creativity and enhance the entire innovation capacity of companies. In this fast-paced world, this adaptability is a very valuable asset. Companies that prioritize diversity get to create an environment where the most unique ideas flourish and drive innovation forward.

Financial Success

Companies that have more women in leadership are generally more economically successful. Research indicates that diverse companies have 21 percent more likelihood to outperform all their counterparts when it comes to profitability. It is not just about having equality. It is also a very smart business decision that brings in tangible economic benefits.

Improved Decision Making

Teams that practice decision-making are way better at making decisions. The varied experiences and viewpoints that women have contributed well to the overall decision-making process. Diversity helps them identify all the potential opportunities and risks and any blind spots that may have otherwise been missed.

Social Impact

Other than just business, women leaders are also the best when it comes to social issues. From promoting diversity and inclusion to addressing any societal issue, the proportion of women dominating the leadership roles contributes towards a very positive social change.

The Bottom Line

To conclude, the need for more women in leadership is not just a need for gender fairness. It is more like a call to harness the maximum potential of diverse lifestyle styles. It is an innovation to build workplaces where people, regardless of their genders, can contribute their very unique strengths to drive innovation, inspire positive change, and foster collaboration.