By Dr Tareq Rasheed, International Consultant and Trainer
Did you ever wonder what leadership is about? Well, it’s focused on guiding people to work together, carrying out strategic plans and keeping an organisation moving forward. This same concept can also be applied at home.
A Sustainable Leader
A sustainable leader is someone who inspires and supports actions towards a better world. Women and men can lead, but did you know that their style of leadership differs according to gender? Here’s why:
Effectiveness: Women lead more by emotional intelligence and focus on the team, while men depend more on achieving objectives by focusing on needed results
Transactional and Transformational Leadership: The Transactional Leader taps into your values, inspires with new ideas and increases your confidence, convictions and desire to achieve a common, moral goal— men lead by using the transactional model.
While the Transformational Leader makes you act in a certain way in return for something you wish to have (or avoid). Women lead more by using the transformational model
Decision making: Women like to consult with their team when making decisions, while men make unilateral decisions. During a crises there is no time to share opinions and results are more important than emotions.
When the situation is somehow stable, sharing with the team is crucial to success.
Mental toughness: In general, women are more resilient than men when dealing with stressful situations and women will focus on the team in these situations
Dominant vs. Inspirational Style: Women are more inspirational in their leadership style, whilst men are more dominant
Communication style: Women prefer open communication while men prefer the opposite, as this allows for more control. However, both are required depending on the situation
Diversity
The best leadership model is Situational Leadership, thus the integration of both women and men will result in the best model of leadership in all relations; family, organisations and society. Thus, diversity is integration.
You can contact Dr Tareq Rasheed at [email protected]
