Feminine vs. Masculine Leadership Styles: Which is Better?

At an event recently, I had a woman come up to me and ask, “What is feminine leadership anyway?”

This isn’t the first time that I’ve answered this question.?

Why??

Historically, leadership has been associated with masculine traits such as assertiveness, decisiveness, and dominance.?

However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the value of feminine leadership traits, including collaboration, empathy, and relationship-building.?

(Important note: This has nothing to do with gender. I hope in this day and age we can agree that both men and women can be fantastic leaders. When I speak about feminine and masculine, I’m talking about leadership styles, not gender.)?

So, is a more masculine or feminine approach to leadership better? Which style gets better results? Should you lean more into the feminine or masculine to be an effective leader?

In order to debate this topic properly, we need to understand both sides of the table.

Here are some key points to consider when understanding feminine leadership traits:

Feminine Leadership Key Traits:

Collaboration:? Being more collaborative and inclusive, fostering a team-oriented environment.

Empathy: Demonstrating higher levels of empathy can contribute to better employee satisfaction and well-being.

Communication: Excelling in effective communication, active listening, and relationship-building.

Let’s flip to the masculine leadership traits and consider this leadership style.

Masculine Leadership Traits:

Assertiveness: Being assertiveness and decisiveness, which can be crucial in making tough decisions.

Confidence: Showing confidence and risk-taking can inspire and motivate teams.

Problem-Solving: Focusing on problem-solving and goal-oriented approaches may be more prevalent in masculine leadership styles.

Something to note about the effectiveness of these two leadership styles:

Situational: The effectiveness of leadership styles often depends on the context. For example, a more collaborative and empathetic approach might be beneficial in certain situations, while assertiveness and decisiveness may be required in others.

Organizational Culture: The culture of an organization also plays a role. Some organizations may benefit from a more traditionally masculine leadership style, while others may thrive in a more inclusive and collaborative environment.

Spoiler Alert…

I don’t think it will surprise anyone that a BALANCED approach is the answer.?

Research suggests that a balanced approach, incorporating both feminine and masculine qualities, is the most effective. This concept is often referred to as "balanced” leadership. Leaders who can draw on various traits, regardless of gender stereotypes, tend to adapt more flexibly to different situations.

A balanced leadership style that combines traditionally masculine and feminine traits is often associated with improved decision-making, creativity, and organizational performance.

Balance and adaptability win.

Ultimately, the most effective leaders are those who can ADAPT their leadership style to meet the needs of their team and the challenges they face. Embracing a diverse range of leadership traits, regardless of gender stereotypes, can contribute to a more dynamic and successful leadership approach.

We are the leaders who directly impact other people’s lives whether you are a salesperson, or leaders of any organization or department, division, or region. Success depends on your ability to inspire and motivate your people.?

What would Ted Lasso do?

A great example of a Balanced Leadership style is Ted Lasso. Ted Lasso is Emmy-award winning series about an American football coach taking over an English Premier League soccer club that has delighted its audience and picked up a cult following in the business world.?

“Not only does Lasso teach AFC Richmond to score goals and climb the league table, he serves as an inspirational model of 21st-century leadership.” - Daniels College of Business

Remember when Ted Lasso said to “Be Like A Goldfish?" It’s the most recognizable lesson because the short-memoried fish is one of the happiest animals in the world. While he uses it to encourage his players not to dwell on mistakes said Mia Elizardi, an adjunct faculty member in Executive Education at the Daniels College of Business. She said this lesson also applies perfectly to the business world and leadership.

“If you’re spending all this time in your performance evaluations worried about your weaknesses and developmental plans, you aren’t tapping into what makes you effective and magical,” she said. “’Be a goldfish’ is a simple reminder to let it go and move on.”

Ask yourself this question:

How do you show up for your people, your co-workers, and your customers??

How would people describe your leadership style? Feminine or masculine? Mix of both?

And what would Ted do?