Women in leadership: a mindset shift?

For years, women have been told that to be successful in the workplace, they must “act more like men.” These days, however, that mindset is beginning to change and women are now seen as possessing special traits that allow them to be effective leaders.

What are those traits? And do gender stereotypes still pose challenges for women?

Despite the fact that 50% of the workforce is made up of women and that more than 50% of women hold management positions, they still hold only 15.7% of C-level positions in Fortune 500 companies. According to According to a recent study by Catalyst, Inc., gender stereotypes continue to prevent women from reaching the top.

The study underscores the fact that women often find themselves in the proverbial “double bind.” If they lead collaboratively, they are often considered ‘too soft’. If they are too aggressive, they are often considered “unladylike.” The bottom line: Women are rarely seen as competent and well-liked, according to the study.

However, there are some who see this mindset slowing down and beginning to change. “Instead of women changing to accommodate the business climate, I see the business climate moving toward a more enriching collaborative model that supports women’s intrinsic strengths,” says Amy Coulter, Vice President and Founder of VisionShare Inc. in Minneapolis.

Amy Brenengen, director of the Office on the Economic Status of Women in St. Paul, Minnesota. she echoes that sentiment. “It seems that traits once considered ‘traditionally feminine’ are now taking on a more positive and mainstream view in terms of how organizations and entities are run,” explains Brenengen.

Recognizing the unique talents that women bring to the workplace, some organizations are making changes to foster a more “female-friendly” environment. In a recent Newsweek article titled “Women and Leadership,” Donna Orender, president of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), notes that women are more collegiate and focus on team building. According to Coulter, “Top-down management is being replaced by team approaches, and flexible, family-oriented hours are more the norm than the exception. It’s taken time, but today’s workplace is leveraging the strengths of women”.

Too often, it seems that women leaders focus too much on trying to fix their problems. [perceived] weaknesses or unusual traits in men. In their book “Now Discover Your Strengths,” authors Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton point out that women [and men] Need to capitalize on your strengths and talents, instead of focusing on your weaknesses.

While some women begin to break through the glass ceiling, others remain glued to the sticky floor. It seems that the key that unlocks the door to success is for women in the workplace to recognize and focus on their strengths. As time goes by, more and more companies will soon become aware of the special gifts that women offer and reward them for it.