Women Can Be Better Leaders than Men - Essay Example

WOMEN CAN BE BETTER LEADERS THAN MEN Outline A) Introduction. B) Patriarchic society. C) Examples of female leaders. D) Female leadership qualities. E) Conclusion. Foreword: This research paper tries to confirm the fact that women are better leaders than men are. Thesis: Women are better leaders than men. When the problem of leadership is touched upon there are several questions that can be mentioned in this respect. The first question sound as: “Are leaders born or made?” This problem is not definitely answered by researchers and psychologists. Some of them keep to the suggestions that people who are born without leadership skills are not able to get them in life. Others tend to think that it is possible to develop the above mentioned skills in a person by fostering proper views during the process of upbringing. The second question that arises is who are better leaders: men or women? During all centuries it has been considered that men are those who win in this unequal battle. I strongly believe that it happens due to the fact that we have been living in the patriarchal society. It can be explained by the fact that up to the 20th century the most important thing both in the life of individual and in life of the whole countries was physical force. The world lived in the state of permanent wartime – the weapon emplacements appeared in the whole world, every time in different places. And the only thing that could contribute to the result of war was men force. Since ancient times men were chosen to be leaders of societies, tribes, droves and countries. A woman had at the best the role of a housewife or was considered as a vessel of childbearing. In today’s world that is subordinated not to the physical force but to the intellectual one, women have much more possibilities to show their creativity and potential. More and more women nowadays run the companies or societies, participate in political life and at the same time have those responsibilities of mothers, daughters and sisters. So, the question is “Does gender influence the leadership potential and skills? What is the difference in the way a woman or man leads other people in an organization oк society? Do those women who obtained the leading posts have any distinguished qualities of character? Why do they have it when the majority of women prefer to neglect it? Female leaders are more aggressive and convincing, demand strictly the orders to be done and, surprisingly, tend to take greater risks than male do. I would like to notice, that it has always been believed that men are more risky creatures than women are, but according to the latest researchers women are more impulsive and that is why they easily take risk. Scientists claim that women are more flexible in communication but at the same tougher in their demand, they are more sympathetic with the problems of the suppliers and employees. Women demand from the members of the organization to consider the matter from every point and to study the instructions more carefully than men do. Dealing with partners women demonstrate more restraint and cordiality (Torbert, 2004). According to the researchers female-leaders are more efficient at forcing their opinion to others, because they know the problem of every participant and can strike the right chord. Moreover giving in to the boss’s views employees feel understood and valued. According to the Caliper study qualities, female leaders have the following qualities: 1 Female leaders are more convincing than their male colleagues. 2 If a female leader is offended or get the refusal, they become even more focused and determined. The motto in this situation is “I am the best and I will never allow anyone to say that I am a bad leader. 3 Female leaders show a comprehensive, team-building skills while decision making and facing different kinds of problems. 4 Female leaders tend to overlook rules and run risks. As mentioned above women are very good at studying rules and instructions and that is why they are more likely to neglect it because they know all loopholes of the rules. Esther Wachs found out that women are able to remake the existing rules; they usually treat challenges as opportunities and are steadier with business difficulties ( Nahavandi, 2005). She proved that the women leadership is a unique item; moreover their style differs greatly from the male one. Another thing is weather employers are looking for these qualities in the market? In 99% an employer is a man who possesses his own style of leadership and thus looks for the same qualities in his employees. I deem that the society is not ready to accept a female leadership, since the patriarchic underpinnings rule the worlds. A female leader is bound to be criticized, since men cannot stand being at the call and back of a woman. Dominating is no longer basic demands in any leadership style. The in-born quality of a woman to unite people, to bring in peace and pacification, that is why people like to stay with her. These new traits of character are really necessary in the today’s world that has become too cruel and unprincipled. The women way of leading is to explain to the world which values are important in life. Some people say that men are cleverer and more reasonable so that they have more chances to make a career. Though, nowadays men and women have equal rights and opportunities. Though, this opinion can be repudiated. I have a friend of mine who works for a successful company. She told me that her first month was very hard for her. Her colleagues are men and at the beginning they treated her indulgently. But during the process of working she proved herself as an experienced leader and now people really admire and lend an ear to her. They consider her every step to be brilliant and original. Recently she has been promoted. Currently the market place is being changed and therefore its needs are also changing. The majority of scientists stick to the point that women fit the place of a leader in any corporation even better than men do. The challenges of the business have also changed and only female features can help in managing them (Kanyoro, 2006). Some researchers stick to the thought that women are better leaders then man. It happens because women possess those qualities that can help to adapt in the situation of competition. There are a great number of stories when a woman has succeeded in her career and it proves that not only men are able to perform well at leading position. Some severe male-opponents even say that a workplace has been feminized. Observing a male leader is a usual thing in business but seeing a woman-leader everyone asks the same question. Is it possible for a woman to combine her family life with being a good leader? Personally I think it is impossible, since there is no person who could be indulged in several occupations at the same time. There are two variants possible: either a woman is a bad mother and wife, or she does not have a family at all. The thing is that, actually there are about 7-8% of female leaders among all leaders on the planet. Certainly, the amount of women leaders varies from country to country. In Muslim countries this percentage comes nearer to null. In the developed countries women have more possibilities to become a leader, though the nature itself determined the whole life of women. The connection between a mother and her children is so strong that they chose to stay at home with children or to have a part-time job to have time for a family. Some female leaders really positioned themselves as mothers for everyone. Darla Moore, the head of Chemical Bank used to enter the meeting halls full of going to be bankrupts, who were all males and told them she would help them. But other women follow the example of male leaders and demonstrate a kind of military tactics and assurance. Moore notes that "leadership is far more powerful than either gender alone" (Bryman, 1986). A lot of cases of female leadership in all times have been imperceptible since the problem of leadership was considered in the light of patriarchy. The intervening supposition about what was significant and where the cases of leadership were taking place excepted places where females have at all times demonstrated leadership. Usually females are leading in guaranteeing that families operate in a proper way and have essentials for advance. Females are leading the “Caring Industry,” by organization the welfare of the poor, the children and the parents etc. Females are settling conflicts and getting resolutions for problems in organizations, whether it is finding clean water out of the city or a lamppost set to stop people from being injured by vessels. Females at all times have been establishing priorities, planning family expenses and future for all members of the family. Females often cooperated with each other to obtain the final goal, but all their attempts have been considered to be usual and household duties, carried out in family life that has never been referred to as leadership. Consequently one of the main tasks is to make female leadership evident. As for the female leadership in organizations it is necessary to point out that such women as the president of Nokia Corporation represent excellent examples of the effective women leadership. They tend to take quick decisions taking into account pursuits of everyone: employees, suppliers and shareholders. It is clear that no one can satisfy everyone’s interests but female leaders try to do this to a greater extend than males do. Another thing is that women are more sympathetic and therefore take less oppressive measures. Moreover women tend to delegate the authority in the company. They rely on the deputies and heads of the departments. To fulfill the proper operation of the company women contribute to the HR management. Due to the in-born intuition females sense very well whether a person fits for the position or no. Summing up everything mentioned above it is necessary to point out that women have always been considered responsible only for the leadership in private life. A lot of men are under their wives’ thumb. The fact is that they do not want to recognize it. Females just do not have time to demonstrate their leadership potential somewhere else besides families. With the development of cell phones and with the feminization of the world society it has become possible for women to control their families at a distance. Nevertheless the majority of women prefer to devote their lives to the children upbringing and household churches. The phenomenon of leadership demands much time, nerves expenses and great responsibility. Not every woman wants to sacrifice her family life for the sake of the career. All in all more and more women started participating in politics, business and education occupying leading positions. The society has to accept that women are no worse leaders than men are. References 1. Bryman, A. 1986. Leadership and Organization. Routledge.UK 2. Frankel, P, L (2007). See Jane lead: 99 Ways for Women to Take Charge at Work and in Life. Warner Adult. USA. 3. Humphries, J. 1998. Managing Successful Teams. Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, UK. 4. 4. Hemphill, J.K., and Coons, A. E. 1997. Development of the Leader Behaviour Description Questionnaire. In R.M. Stogdill & A.E. Coons (Eds), Leader Behaviour and Measurement. Columbus: Ohio State University, Journal of Social Issues, 12, 41-49. 5. Kanyoro, M. 2006.Challenges to Womens Leadership. Speech in honor of YWCA of Salt Lake centennial celebration, 13 July. 6. Koestenbaum, P. 2002. Leadership: The Inner Side of Greatness: a Philosophy for Leaders. Wiley Default. USA 7. Nahavandi, A. 2005. The Art and Science of Leadership. Prentice Hall. 8. Riggio, R and Bass, M, B. 2001. Transformational Leadership.   Routledge.UK 9. Rood, J. 2006. Leadership in Early Child Hood Education (3rd Edition). McGraw-Hill Education. UK 10. Torbert, W. 2004. Action Inquiry: the Secret of Timely and Transforming Leadership, San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers Read More