The Yin-Yang of Leadership: Why Feminine Traits are Essential for Modern Leadership

In today’s fast-evolving business landscape, the traditional attributes of leadership are no longer sufficient.

In today's increasingly interconnected and transparent world, feminine values are becoming more prominent, influential, and must-have - in both corporate settings and global diplomacy, and in life.

The so-called "feminine" traits have emerged as essential core attributes and skills that all leaders—men and women—must intentionally acquire and develop to win BIG in business and life.

As an executive and leadership coach, CEO advisor, and executive life strategist, I work with both men and women on expanding these "soft" skills of Humanity. These skills, often the hardest for high-achievers to master, are crucial for persuading people, understanding diverse perspectives, and navigating the complexities and 'messiness' of modern leadership.

Why Feminine Traits Are Essential for Modern Leadership

• Female leaders demonstrate more transformational leadership styles, according to a landmark 1992 meta-analysis of 61 studies led by Eagly. They are more likely than men to embody organizational values and inspire others to support the mission, study results show
• Leadership Traits: Researchers analyzed data from 16 national polls involving over 30,000 U.S. adults from 1946 to 2018, focusing on three types of traits: communion (compassion, sensitivity), agency (ambition, aggression), and competence (intelligence, creativity). A 2018 poll revealed that while 86% believed men and women were equally intelligent, 9% viewed women as more intelligent, compared to only 5% who thought men were more intelligent. Furthermore, the perception of women as more compassionate and sensitive than men has significantly strengthened over time. Women rank better than or equal to men in seven of eight traits relevant to leadership assessed in a 2008 national survey by the Pew Research Center. Half of the respondents ranked women as more honest than men, 38% said they viewed women as smarter. Women were also ranked as being more compassionate, outgoing, and creative.

• Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Women often excel in critical thinking and decision-making, especially in complex and rapidly changing environments. Caliper's study found that women are more likely to consider multiple perspectives and are more risk-aware, leading to more thoughtful and comprehensive decision-making processes and fewer "blind-spots" resulting from group-think limitations (Caliper, 2014).
• Holistic Thinking: Neuroscientific research indicates that the female brain processes information differently, enhancing their ability to integrate emotional and social intelligence with analytical thinking. This holistic processing is particularly valuable in complex and chaotic contexts and environments, which are becoming the new norm in today’s business world. This balanced approach helps in making more comprehensive decisions and handling complex issues more effectively (Brand Finance, 2020).
• Reading Emotions and People: The ability to read emotions and understand people is a powerful advantage in complex negotiation and conflict resolution. This skill allows leaders to read between the lines and grasp the underlying concerns and motivations of others, which - with nearly 90% of "communication" being non-verbal - is crucial in business success. The Japanese concept of "aikido" emphasizes harmony and understanding in conflict situations, transforming a "disadvantaged" position into strength, highlighting the power of empathy and emotional intelligence in achieving favorable outcomes.
• Resilience: Women leaders tend to display high levels of resilience, crucial during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Research indicates that countries led by women had six times fewer deaths from COVID-19 than those led by men, showcasing their effective crisis management (World Economic Forum, 2021).
• Stability and Consistency: Research by the Global Leadership Forecast shows that women are often seen as more stable and consistent leaders. This stability is crucial during times of change and uncertainty, providing a reliable foundation for navigating challenges and positively impacting people who experience less stress and anxiety from uncertainty. The study found that organizations with gender-diverse leadership teams were 1.4 times more likely to have sustained profitable growth (DDI, 2021).
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Women typically score higher in emotional intelligence, which includes empathy, helping them understand and respond to the needs of their team members. This trait fosters stronger relationships and trust within organizations. According to the American Psychological Association, leaders with high emotional intelligence foster better performance and employee satisfaction (APA, 2020).
• Collaboration and Inclusivity: Women often emphasize collaboration over competition, encouraging open communication and collective problem-solving. Studies show that companies with more women on their boards have higher earnings per share and return on equity. The MSCI study found that companies with three or more women on their boards had 45% higher earnings per share and 36% higher return on equity compared to companies with no women on their board (MSCI, 2015). Additionally, McKinsey & Company found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability (McKinsey, 2020).
• Intuition: Trusting intuition allows women leaders to make adaptive and responsive decisions. According to "The Athena Doctrine," 66% of respondents believed the world would be better if 'men thought more like women', highlighting the value of intuitive traits (Gerzema & D’Antonio, 2013).
• Flexibility: Women leaders often exhibit greater flexibility, - a must-have agile trait for the modern strategic thinkers - helping teams navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. Harvard Business Review found that women score higher in adaptability and flexibility, traits that help teams handle dynamic environments effectively (HBR, 2019).
• Vulnerability: Expressing vulnerability builds authenticity and trust. Brené Brown’s research shows that leaders who are open about their weaknesses, uncertainties, mistakes, and concerns create more inclusive and supportive environments, fostering stronger team cohesion and loyalty (Brown, 2012).
• Ethical Leadership: Women are often perceived as more ethical and honest leaders. According to a study by Brand Finance, female-led companies have higher ethical standards and lower corruption rates (Brand Finance, 2020).

The Yin-Yang of Leadership

The masterful integration of "feminine" and "masculine" traits by male and female leaders creates a balanced, yin-yang approach to leadership. While traditionally masculine traits like assertiveness and decisiveness are important, they must be complemented by soft skill mastery of empathy, collaboration, and inclusivity to navigate the complexities of modern leadership effectively. This balanced holistic approach not only enhances individual leadership effectiveness but also drives organizational and global success and resilience.

I am far from proving the 'superiority' of specific leadership traits—whether feminine or masculine— but highlight how complex and multidimensional the leadership excellence has become. The million-dollar question on what is the core for success in the 3rd millennium is simple to answer:

Psychology is the currency of success, with Humanity coming back into the formula of sustainable success.

Success in leadership is influenced by many factors, including the duration of a leader's tenure and the inclusivity of the society they lead. However, the data and numerous examples suggest that feminine values positively impact both corporate and geopolitical realms, while feminine leadership styles correlate strongly with attributes that build positive influence and reputation, greater engagement, passion, and overall impact.

The Gender Traits in Modern Global Leadership

In today's increasingly interconnected and transparent world, feminine values are becoming more prominent and influential in both corporate settings and global diplomacy.

The concept of 'soft power', coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye, describes the ability to influence through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion. This idea is gaining traction in the 21st century, particularly as leadership styles evolve to meet new challenges.

For example, in 2020, Brand Finance introduced the Global Soft Power Index to evaluate a nation's soft power, examining its tools and their effects on prosperity. The index, based on a survey of 55,000 people across 100 countries, assessed nations' global presence, reputation, and impact, focusing on attributes known as soft power pillars.

Interestingly, countries led by women—such as Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Myanmar—often enjoy better reputations and greater positive influence than those led by men. These female-led nations excel particularly in areas of Governance, International Relations, and Business & Trade. They are recognized for their strengths in stability, safety, security, and ethical governance, including:

• Robust and stable economies
• Effective environmental protection
• Strong international relations
• High levels of safety and security
• Attractive lifestyles
• Political stability and sound governance
• Trustworthiness
• Quality education systems
• High ethical standards and low corruption

The ability to make people feel secure is a hallmark of strong leadership. Female leaders, especially during the pandemic, have been noted for their clear communication and decisive actions. Even before the pandemic, nations led by women often outperformed those led by men in terms of protection, stability, and security. This leadership style, emphasizing cooperation and safety, has only gained more importance in our current volatile global environment.

The increasing significance of feminine values in leadership underscores their effectiveness in creating stable, ethical, and inclusive environments. These qualities are crucial for navigating the complexities of today's world and fostering long-term success and cooperation on a global scale.

Conclusion

In my work with high-achievers—men and women—I emphasize the importance of recognizing, developing, and mastering both "masculine" and "feminine" traits.

These skills are not innate and are often deeply suppressed in the typical "high-achiever" patterns of "success" and "becoming," but they can and must be intentionally cultivated through awareness, practice, and commitment.

By expanding their leadership capacities to include empathy, collaboration, intuition, critical diverse thinking, ecosystemic resilience, and wisdom, leaders can create more dynamic, innovative, and resilient organizations.

This transformation extends beyond professional success, enhancing personal life, relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose, happiness, and freedom.

As the business world continues to evolve, the leaders who master these skills will be the ones who thrive and win big—in both business and life.

To explore how to expand your holistic ecosystemic leadership to succeed in the post-COVID world, book a talk with us today - Coonect to inquire about keynotes and presentations, workshops, executive and life coaching, leadership development, CEO/executive advisory support, strategic Red Team strategy enhancement, de-risking, governance due diligence, and risk management. https://calendly.com/olgarines/60min

Sources:

1. American Psychological Association (APA), 2020.
2. Psychology Today, "The Rise of Feminine Leadership: Embracing the New Way."
3. IE Insights, "The Gender Traits of Modern Leadership."
4. McKinsey & Company, 2020.
5. Gerzema, J., & D’Antonio, M., "The Athena Doctrine: How Women (and the Men Who Think Like Them) Will Rule the Future," 2013.
6. Harvard Business Review (HBR), 2019.
7. Caliper, 2014.
8. DDI, 2021.
9. Brand Finance, 2020.
10. MSCI, 2015.
11. World Economic Forum, 2021.