women make better leaders

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BB-5102 Management andOrganizational BehaviourWomen make better leaders Why? (If not, why not?) If

so, what qualities make them better leaders, and explain.

Gary Lim Kwok Chuen (11M0011)

Master of Business Administration

Semester 1 - 2011/12

Date: 25

th

August 2011

Submission Deadline: 25th

August 2011


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BB-5102 Management and Organizational Behavior Master of Business Administration

Page 2 of6 Student ID: 11M0011

A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step- Lao Tzu

Introduction

There have been arguments regarding whether women make better leaders than the male.

These arguments are usually led towards sensitive issues like condemning, prejudice and

discrimination. These are usually due to the religion and/or cultural style depending on the

region especially when women are trying to position themselves at higher level or post. But

do these really justify that women cannot be leaders or they cant be better leaders? A

research done in 2008 conducted by PewResearchCenter Team (www.pewsocialtrends.org)

indicates a different perspective on how individuals responded to the surveys that had carried

out.

Essential Quality of Leadership

Leadership does not simply happen. It can be taught, learned, developed.

- Giuliani, Rudolph W., 2002[8]People do not develop leadership skills by waving a magic wand or reciting the perfect word.

No-one becomes a good leader overnight. The seeds of having good leadership skills come

from a combination of personal skills, talent and character. One can only shape and nurture

ones leadership style by strengthening ones talents, working to eliminate problem

behaviours and learning to develop new, more productive and effective ones.

A research, conducted at Inseads Global Leadership Center derived 10 critical components

that were analyzed base on leadership ability in men and women at executive level, globally.

Their research indicates that a successful leader should have the following essentials i.e. (i)

Envisioning; (ii) Empowering; (iii) Energizing; (iv) Designing and Aligning; (v) Rewarding

and Feedback; (vi) Team Building; (vii) Outside Orientation; (viii) Global mind-set; (ix)


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Tenacity and (x) Emotional Intelligence.[5]

These essentials are the abilities of a leader

whenever he/she performs his/her tasks which basically are not born with it but are actually

developed within an individual as time progresses.

Shamshad Akhtar, Pakistans first female central-bank chief, has survived in a government

that turned bitterly against the man who appointed her as president. In 2008, when Pakistan

was entering a no ordinary crisis in struggling the nations profound economic problems, she

was known to be better positioned than most to tackle the countrys mammoth economic

challenges. She doesnt lack in experience as she was a former economist with the World

Bank and the Asia Development Back and she also known for speaking her mind.[2]

Asian Women Leaders

Something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.

Constance Baker Motley (First Black Woman in the U.S. to become a Federal Judge)[10]

Though Asia has been known for the unfairness in gender treatment and equality, it seems

that Asian women are much coming into power than any other region of the world. Looking

at countries like India, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka as well as Israel, where regional cultures,

traditions and religion are practiced strongly, the women face discrimination throughout their

whole life which includes all sorts of abuses and any hostile environment towards them. Even

they are denied to have the right to vote or hold office/government level. And yet, Sirimavo

Bandaranaike served as prime minister of Sri Lanka, who resumed power after the

assassination of her husband, at three separate times. She was known to be Sri Lankas as

well as the worlds first democratically elected female leader in 1960. While Indira Gandhi

was twice prime minister of India and Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to be head of a

Muslim state, as well served twice the same role in Pakistan. It is considered without any


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doubt that most female leader in Asia raised to power by means of family connection,

whether being member of prominent families: i.e. daughters, wives, or widows of former

government leaders or leading oppositionists.[3]

However, experts found that these female

leaders have done little to advance the cause associated with womens rights; they not, with

few possible exceptions, governed differently from men. And the rise of female leaders does

not seem to reflect any change in the patriarchal nature of Asian societies. Rather, it

demonstrates the power of a name and the persistence of political dynasties, whether they

involve women or men.[6]

Conclusion

Women are not inherently passive or peaceful. Were not inherently anything but

human.- Robin Morgan (1941-), the feminist editor and writer[10]

As proclaimed by The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human

beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

[9]

Despite significant inroads made by

the feminist and equal opportunities movements, women still face unspoken prejudices in the

workspace especially when a woman assumes to take a leadership role. The title of Leader

must be earned by inspiring and motivating people to give their best. A successful leader

must commit one-self to ones organisation and fosters that same kind of commitment in

ones followers. The researched conducted by PewResearchCenter Team found the response

of their survey indicated that two-thirds of the public believed men and women make equally

good leaders.[1]

Whether the leader be a man or woman; and one might have all the

mentioned essentials or a combination of most, are able to perform the leadership tasks with

the interest in ones organisation welfare.


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Reference:

1. Pew Research Center, 2008 , Men or Women: Whos the Better Leader? (A Paradoxin Public Attitudes), viewed 19 August 2011,

2. Wonacott, Peter, November 2008, Ten Women to watch in Asia: Shamshad Akhtar,The Wall Street Journal: Journal Women, viewed 19 August 2011,

3. Gluckman, Ron, Sisters in Power, viewed 19 August 2011,

4. Halloran, Richard, 1998, Asias Women Leaders on the Outs, Global ReportingNetwork Publications: Global Beat Issue Brief No. 34, viewed 19 August 2011,

5. 10 Critical Components of Global Leadership, CIOZone: Network for IT Leadership,viewed 21 August 2011,

6. Mydans, Seth, February 2010, Family Vaults Women to Leadership in Asia, The NewYork Times: The Female Factor, viewed on 21 August 2011,

7. Leaders and Rulers: the roles of Asian women in Asian Society, ColorQ World,viewed on 21 August 2011,

8. W. Giuliani, Rudolph (2002) Leadership, Little Brown, Great Britain9. Peters, Julie and Wolper, Andrea (1995) Womens Rights, Human Rights:

International Feminist Perspective, Routledge, New York . London


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10.Food for Thought: Memorable Quotes, Australian Centre for Leadership for Women,viewed on 23 August 2011,

women make better leaders

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