5 Unique Traits Women Have That Make Them Great Leaders

For the longest time, in many cultures, leadership is often attributed to men. It is only today that this is slowly changing, as more and more women are ascending to leadership positions worldwide.

Despite this increase of female leaders worldwide, their numbers remain small compared to that of male leaders overall. 

According to Reuters, women have only held 12% of the top positions in thirty-three of the most influential multilateral organizations since 1945. Even today, only twenty-one women are at the helm of fortune 500 companies.

That said, besides empowering women and improving workplace diversity, another importance of female leadership is bringing in newer perspectives and talent. In addition, women possess traits that make them great leaders. 

So, in celebration of International Women’s Day, here are six unique traits women have that make them great leaders.

Female Leaders Tend to be More Empathic.

One of the main differences between male and female leaders is that the latter are often more empathic than the former. 

This is confirmed by a study published in PNAS, which tested the empathetic reactions of more than three hundred thousand people from fifty-seven countries aged sixteen to seventy.

The researchers used an online test known as an eye test for this study. In this test, women scored higher in measures of cognitive empathy. 

This means that female leaders are often more understanding of others and willing to listen to their concerns. It also allows them to better act as mediators to smooth over misunderstandings and solve arguments between their employees.

This promotes cooperation and employee commitment in the workplace. After all, employees are more likely to work hard if they feel their boss has their back.

In fact, empathy is so valued in today’s workplace that, according to the Wall Street Journal, companies are now offering empathy training to employees.

Women Are Eager to Take the Initiative.

Because they have to deal with far more obstacles in their careers than men, female leaders are more eager to seize initiatives as they come.

According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, women were found to excel in vital leadership traits, chief among which is taking the initiative.

They see challenges as an opportunity to show they’re just as capable of leading as their male counterparts. And they’re far more willing to take risks to overcome any challenge at work. They also won’t easily back down from a decision they believe to be correct.

Women Handle Stress Differently.

Between tight deadlines, uncooperative team members, and challenging assignments, it’s easy to see why stress and the workplace often go hand in hand.

Another of the traits that make women great leaders is the way they generally handle stress better compared to men. 

Instead of lashing out or bottling their stress, women tend to remain calm and reach out to others. This helps them find better solutions to their problems while also keeping the team’s morale high.

According to the American Psychological Association, this ability to connect with others is why women can take charge and manage their stress better.

Female Leaders Often Display Humility.

Great leaders often possess humility. After all, who wants to work with an overconfident and arrogant boss? And according to studies, women are usually less arrogant than men.

Being humble enables female leaders to inspire their subordinates to follow their directives and promote collaboration and coordination. And when things go wrong, female leaders are more willing to admit their mistakes and take responsibility.

However, being too humble can also prove detrimental for female leaders. This could cause them to remain silent during meetings, for example. Thus, female leaders should strive to find the right balance between confidence and humility.

Women Know When to Ask for Help and Ignore Bad Advice.

Even today, many female bosses struggle with the lack of recognition by their employers. Thus, they’ve learned to take every opportunity that comes their way to advance their careers.

In addition to knowing how to ask for help, many female bosses can filter good advice from bad ones. Of course, not all who give the wrong advice are malicious, but shutting them down up front might cause issues later.

Thus, women have become proficient in politely acknowledging bad advice -but not following them once the conversation is concluded.

Who Run the World?

Throughout history, women have proved themselves equal -even superior- to men. Take inspirational female leaders such as former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Susan Wojcicki, CEO of Youtube, to name a few.

And each of these great female leaders possesses the traits mentioned above that helped them reach the pinnacle of their careers. So stand tall and proud this International Women’s Day, for your unique qualities aren’t a liability but a strength.

If you want to put these traits to good use in an online job, Remote Staff is here to help. Our jobs list has many available openings for you to apply to. Good luck, and Happy International Women’s Day!