Female Advisor Perspective | Leadership Strengths that Help Women Succeed
Leadership behaviors commonly found in women – inclusiveness, pragmatism, openness, teambuilding – are skills that can be particularly important for entrepreneurs, advisors, leaders and change makers.
Research shows that leadership behaviors commonly found in women – inclusiveness, pragmatism, openness, teambuilding – are particularly important in successfully advancing change. Examples of the power of these character traits exist throughout history. Many, if not most, corporate transformations and social movements that have achieved positive, lasting change have been advanced through the application of these core principles. Clarity of purpose and an effort to attract rather than overpower, have proven to be one of the best recipes for sustained success.
COLLABORATION
Image by Shubham Dhage
Solutions achieved though collaboration have a depth that reflects the creativity and wisdom of a rich and diverse set of skills. Studies conducted at transformative companies such as Google, have found that the most compelling and innovative solutions are frequently associated with an intense commitment to collaboration.
In leadership and advisory work, the collaborative approach more frequently adopted by women has the power to dramatically influence both the process and the outcomes. Collaboration has the capacity to create greater energy and engagement, as well as more visibility around the range of options.
Quick fixes driven by a single individual can be tempting versus the up front time commitment of a more collaborative process. Long term results, however, reflect the value of this process.
“In Silicon Valley, software engineers are encouraged to work together, in part because studies show that groups tend to innovate faster, see mistakes more quickly and find better solutions to problems. ”
PRAGMATISM
Straightforward solutions are often the most effective, both in terms of outcomes and the control one feels over the process. Belief in one’s ability to exert control over the environment and to produce desired results is essential for an individual’s well being.
The value of creating straightforward, pragmatic solutions lies not only in the visibility they give to planning and strategy, but also to how the implementation of that strategy feels, the sense of control the strategy delivers. As leaders and advisors, our pragmatic instincts, the ones that look for straightforward solutions that create line of sight for our team and clients, open the door to extraordinary outcomes.
A straightforward approach does something else as well, it gives power to those you lead. This is a key indicator of a strong leader.
EMPATHY
Image by Giulia May
The ability to see the world from somebody else’s perspective is truly a super power, whether as a leader or an advisor. How the journey feels to our team or clients is part of the outcome, and therefore an additional piece of the puzzle that must be solved for. Success, in its most complete form, has got to win on this front as well.
Women’s powerful ability to empathize gives them an advantage in solving for this more complex equation. As a leader, the ability to see the world through your team’s eyes allows you to carve a path that builds on strengths, sustains commitment and creates excitement. As an advisor, the ability to see the world though your clients’ eyes allows you to understand the mission in its entirety and ensure that the roadmap addresses the full arc of outcomes.
On the other side of the coin, leaders who lack empathy can miss information that is critical to success.
The list of leadership strengths that help women succeed could go on from here, but I think the point is clear. These strengths are a powerful catalyst to positive outcomes, and are becoming increasingly valued by society, companies and clients alike. Truly extraordinary outcomes require fresh perspective, fresh ideas and a willingness and ability to listen and look at the world through a wider lens.
Simplicity, purpose, control
Join us for the next installment of Female Advisor Perspective
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Dahl is a well regarded executive, female industry leader and dedicated client advisor with over twenty-five years of experience. Susan writes on topics such as investing, strategy and financial planning, and is the author of the blog series Female Advisor Perspective, a look into the unique strategy, process and planning insights that emerge when problem solving is viewed through the unique lens of experienced female financial advisors. Susan’s deep and diverse background extends from global investing to risk management to change leadership. This background has laid the groundwork for an approach that asks more of wealth. She shares some her most recent work in a talk for TEDx, Can Happy Make You Money?
