
Kirsten ROENNAU
“Passions make man live, wisdom only makes him last.” Chamfort
It is a well-known fact: women represent more than half of the population. In addition, they represent nearly half of the active population in France. But when it comes to business management, the trend is suddenly reversed.
While it is true that more and more women are occupying management positions, there are only 14% of women entrepreneurs. And of these, only 15% manage companies with more than 500 employees (KPMG study, June 2015).
Is this so because they are less competent in management positions? Far from it.
According to a study conducted in 2011 by the American consulting firm Zenger Folkman, female leaders would be considered better leaders than their male peers by colleagues, direct collaborators (N-1 and N+1), and others.
This study, which includes 7,280 leaders in companies in various countries, is based on 16 leadership competencies.
Female leaders rated 15 of these competencies better, and out of 12, the score is significantly higher, with an even greater gap in competencies such as initiative taking, personal development, integrity/honesty, and results-oriented skills.
Leaders, on the other hand, only outperform their female colleagues in one respect: their ability to develop a strategic perspective.
Although men and women may occupy the same positions indifferently, the fact remains that both have their own characteristics. Depending on the case, these characteristics can prove to be an asset or a hindrance in the exercise of business management.
According to a recent study conducted by Credit Suisse, firms that have women in their senior management or board of directors are in better health than others that are only run by men.
Diversity within management is a source of creativity and demonstrates operational efficiency.
Companies would benefit from taking into consideration the need for this advantageous cohabitation in top management. Recruiting strategies in particular could be revised in line with this orientation.
The fact is that a woman does not have to act like a man to be a good leader, and a good leader is not a good leader because he is a man. To lead a company towards excellence, gender does not really matter.
Leaders who have successfully led their businesses to success are those who have shown professional determination and personal humility.
“Passions make man live, wisdom only makes him last.” Chamfort
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