Ladies = Leaders

Gender shouldn’t be an influence when considering if someone can be a successful leader or not. However, studies have shown that women tend to flourish in leadership roles.

Having two daughters myself, I’ve been excited about the tremendous progress women are making in corporate America. We’re seeing this progress now in politics and many other leadership positions across the board.

Most women are naturally empathetic and value relationships. 

I believe women have a natural advantage over men in leadership positions because they have a better ego/empathy balance compared to men. Studies have shown that this is due to the fact that women bare children and men do not. 

This certainly does not guarantee success in the ego/empathy balance category. However, after working with women in leadership positions, I have experienced that women tend to be superior to men in listening to understand, rather than listening to respond.  

This is an incredible attribute for effective two-way communication.

Take a look at the State of the Union address from last night.  

Over 100 years ago, President Woodrow Wilson opened with, “Gentleman of Congress.”  This made sense because there were no women in Congress in 1913.

Today, there are 127 women in Congress.

Regardless of your political views, it’s hard to argue that former Georgia House Majority Leader, Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the governor’s race for the state of Georgia last fall, gave a powerful speech that motivated both men and women alike.

Stacey Abrams, a Yale graduate, successfully articulates her messages. She was the first African-American woman to ever deliver a democratic response. Her story about her father giving up his jacket on a cold winter night to a homeless man tells us a lot about the ego/empathy balance she grew up with. She even added in that success is not guaranteed, but is very possible. 

Back to my daughters, Abbie and Alexa, I’m already so proud of their leadership skills. The opportunities they have, and that all other female leaders have, in front of them to improve our world are limitless!