When a man strongly asserts his point of view and autonomy, he is hailed as a strong, competent leader. When a woman exhibits the same management qualities, she is labelled a brusque, overbearing bitch.
This is not really news anymore, is it?
How can women leaders break through that brick wall of "bitch"? How can they manage gender expectations and still successfully climb the corporate ladder or lead in their own business?
"Breaking through Bitch: How Women Can Shatter Stereotypes and Lead Fearlessly" takes an authoritative, sometimes controversial approach, using stories from executives at the highest corporate levels to show how women can hone their innate skills, rise to the top, and be effective, outstanding leaders. It addresses why women cannot and should not "act like men."
It identifies the unique challenges of developing women leaders and offers strategies for how to overcome them. The characteristics of traditional leadership is male, not female, stereotypes. The stereotyped concepts of "woman" and of "leader" are quite different.
Women must demonstrate leadership in a way that bridges the expectations we have of them as women and the expectations we have of leaders. Generally, women build that bridge by demonstrating a democratic and interpersonally oriented leadership style.
The truth is that women leaders temper their leadership behaviours with some stereotypical female traits and behaviours!
The women included in the research varied in their level of expression of femininity and their sexual orientation; they varied in personality type; yet the behavioural theme was the same. These women are being women: assertive, yes; driving, yes; in control, yes; but they have filed smooth the hard edges associated with stereotypical male leadership.
The Women's Leadership Blueprint is consistent with what one would expect among all successful executives and business leaders - that is, striving to achieve the best, showing confidence, effectively influencing others, leveraging cognitive ability, and having awareness of organisational politics.
Reference: Carol Vallone Mitchell: Breaking Through "Bitch": How Women Can Shatter Stereotypes and Lead Fearlessly.
Business Tips
Women's Leadership Can Shatter Stereotypes
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- Parent Category: Business Tips
- Category: Leadership
