The Power of Women Leading

Research shows that women, on average, have higher emotional intelligence than men.?

Don’t shoot the messenger.?

According to a study by TalentSmart, women score higher than men in four out of five EI competencies, including emotional self-awareness, empathy, social awareness, and relationship management.?

So, how does this benefit organizations??

This means women leaders are particularly adept at recognizing and managing emotions in themselves and others and communicating effectively, which makes them excellent at building strong relationships and creating positive, inclusive work environments.

It’s without a doubt that a diverse leadership team that includes women, improves the overall well-being of an organization.?

And we all know: Well-being = Higher performance.

According to a report by McKinsey & Company, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the bottom quartile. This demonstrates that gender diversity in leadership leads to better business performance.

Here are some of the ways that women with high EI can improve the well-being and psychological safety of their teams:

1. Emotional Intelligence fosters psychological safety

Psychological safety is the belief that you can speak up, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of retaliation or negative consequences.?

This is particularly important in a work environment where employees must take risks, be creative, and innovate. Women leaders who demonstrate high EI can foster a culture of psychological safety by encouraging open communication, empathizing with employees, and actively listening to their concerns.?

This can help decrease cases of discrimination and sexual harassment that can make a workplace psychologically unsafe.

2. Women leaders prioritize well-being

Women leaders with high EI are particularly attuned to their teams' emotional and mental well-being. They prioritize creating a positive work environment that supports employees' physical and emotional health, and they understand that a happy, healthy workforce is more productive, creative, and engaged.

In the past week, during one of my coaching calls, I met with a woman leader who was adamant about putting herself first on her priority list. She readily admitted that work was last. And when the priorities got flipped, where work took over, she actually was less productive and less happy.?

Her goal is to model healthy boundaries and work-life alignment for those who were her direct reports.?

3. Women leaders are adaptable

Leaders must be adaptable and resilient in today's rapidly changing business environment.?

Women are exceptionally skilled at adapting to change and helping their teams navigate uncertainty. They can quickly assess a situation, adjust their leadership style as needed, and provide a sense of stability and support for their team.

4. Women leaders create a culture of empathy

Empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence, and women leaders are skilled at demonstrating empathy. They understand the importance of connecting with their team members on an emotional level. They use this understanding to build relationships and create a supportive, inclusive work environment that fosters mutual respect.

At the end of the day, women leaders with high EI are essential to creating positive, inclusive work environments that prioritize well-being, psychological safety, and collaboration.?

They can inspire and motivate their teams, build strong relationships, and adapt to changing business environments.?

As we celebrate Women's History Month, let's recognize and celebrate the amazing contributions that women make to the workplace, continue to promote gender diversity in leadership, and remove the barriers that prevent women from being great!

P.S. Hey, did you see my last Linkedin post where I shared the cover of my upcoming book? If you didn't, go check it out! Thanks to all of you who voted!

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Farah Harris is a psychotherapist and expert on workplace belonging and well-being dedicated to disrupting unhealthy work environments. She is the founder and CEO of?WorkingWell Daily?, a company that approaches workplace belonging and well-being from a psycho-social and emotional intelligence lens. As a speaker, consultant, and now author, she has helped individuals and Fortune 500 companies develop healthier workplaces where leaders and teams have grown in their empathy, self-awareness, and sociocultural awareness

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