Can women make good leaders?

Can women make good leaders? The very question can spur heated debates from both men and woman: arguing various issues related to the strengths and weakness of each gender. Despite the validity of the arguments, the reality is that the statistics related to woman in high ranking leadership positions highlights how women are woefully underrepresented .

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2009 that women constituted 51% of all workers in the workplace. Despite improvements in education attainment, professional development, and political participation, this has not translated into significant increases in female leadership in politics and business. While some women have risen to the pinnacle of political power, less than 19% of legislators in the world today are women. In the corporate sphere, female representation falls to a mere 9.9%. The limited female presence in leadership positions leads to a consideration of whether and how public policy should respond. To answer these questions, we must identify the constraints on female leadership and aim to accurately understand the benefits of enabling more women to become leaders. WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2012-Pande, Rohini, and Deanna Ford

Many studies have been done by researchers on the issue of gender discrepancies in high level leadership positions. I do not claim to be one of those researchers, however, I have made some related observations of the other students in my program, men and woman training to become our district's future leaders. Like them, I share a sense of internal conflict as we strive to seek balance between our career ambitions and our family responsibilities. While many of the males in our program, especially the two whose wives have recently had babies, feel the challenge to manage that balance, it appears that the woman have more internal conflict and a greater sense of sacrifice. Moreover, the woman that exhibit strong leadership tendencies, often see that as being pushy, opinionated, and a weakness whereas the males see that as a strength. When we discuss what we would change about ourselves, the men talk about being even more assertive, whereas the women discuss the need to be more inclusive.


This entire reflection was prompted when I viewed the following video featuring Sheryl Sandberg, the C.O.O. of Facebook. In the the video she talks about things women need to do in order to counter this trend. Most notably was the notion of "Sitting at the table." She explains that women often underestimate their contributions and worthiness. For me, this topic was particularly profound, as I often find myself downplaying my abilities, questioning my worthiness, and wondering if I have the "IT" factor that would make me a great leader. I recognize this doubt may be in part the result of living a very different life then I find myself living right now. As a mother, I raised two young women to be strong leaders, but never believed myself to be one... until now... now I am starting to see what others have seen in me, the leader within.

Dr. Smith, from the Center for Leadership and Learning lead a training for my group early in our program. During that training he showed us a video clip from the movie "Surf's Up" in which the one character was told that a surf board can be found within a piece of wood if only you have the patience to find it. The analogy was made to us as future leaders... that a leader was within each of us, that it is up to us to discover it.

So my initial question, can women make good leaders, is not nearly as relevant as what does it take to be a good leader and what do we, as a society, need to do to support developing leaders. I am not completely comfortable with calling  myself a leader yet, but I know I am well on my way. Perhaps that uncertainty, that desire to learn and grow, and my ability to reflect upon the process will ultimately make me a good leader. Eventually I think I will feel more comfortable with the title, but as John Maxwell said, “He that thinketh he leadeth, and hath no one following, is only taking a walk." Hopefully, I will not just be out for a walk!

Start a Movement

Some leaders are born into their position, some rise to a position of leadership, and some assume the position out of necessity. For some leadership is based on positional power- I am in charge, pay your salary, am responsible for your evaluation, so therefore you need to do what I say. Others just seem to be natural leaders... people trust them and follow.

As I learn more about leadership, the one truth is... If you are leading and look behind you and no one is following you, then you are just a fool out for a walk. Leaders can only be leaders when people are willing to follow. BUT it takes a brave soul to be that first person to follow the leader.

TED had a great video on leadership... and starting a movement. Take an few minutes to check out this fun video:

As we round out the year, and prepare to spend some time with family and friends over the holiday, ask yourself this question...

Do you have the courage to be the first to dance in a field? And who would you be willing to follow as they danced alone?

Start a movement- do something unexpected, challenge the status quo- the norm, and when you see some incredibly brave soul willing to do that, have the courage to be the first to follow them.

Start a revolution... And Become the Leader You are Meant to Be!

I am winding down for the semester. One more week and one more 12-page paper to write before Winter break... before I finally get a little down time in what has been a crazy 7 months.

 It was May when I sat in that first PROPEL meeting. Little did I know the challenges and frustrations that awaited me. I have missed funerals and weddings, births and birthdays. I have mourned and celebrated with other members of my Cohort. We have become a family, often spending more time with each other then we have with our own real families... AND we still have another 8 months before we need to decide whether we will continue on for phase 2 of the program. Phase 1 will have provided us with our degree in Educational Leadership and our credentials to be an Assistant Principal.

But if we decide to continue... to stay in the program and go on to Phase 2....We will have received specialized training to become "Change Agents" ready to Turn Around some us of our district's neediest schools. We are being trained to make wide scale, systemic change to schools and a system that is broken, that is failing to meet the needs of many of this district's children. We are the one's being trained to take over schools and lead our district into 21st century learning.

When I first started this journey, I was really a little uncomfortable with the idea of being a Change Agent. Me? A Change Agent... I am the one that has always gone to great lengths to avoid confrontation and change, so to find myself in the position where I am responsible for leading the change. It is still so strange to think about it... but here I am... on my way... A Change Agent in Training!

Umair Haque, from the Harvard Business Review often writes about changing society. In many of his recent writings he proposes that such a change needs to begin with us.

"I don't want a revolution. I want a million tiny revolutions. Awakenings to the heart-stopping commandment life gives to the living: to believe in life. Weary and directionless in the desert we may be — yet, the future, a sunlit ocean, never ceases singing. Sometimes, all we have to do is listen.
Each and every one of us is a leader. Some of us just don't know it yet."
Umair Haque

For many, change is seen as something huge- like being a Change Agent. But in the previous quote, Haque talks about making change by starting a million tiny revolutions. Perhaps Haque has the right idea, it doesn't require grand acts to create a change. Sometimes it takes just a lot of little things... a kind word, a friendly gesture, a call or hug when someone is in need. We can all be change agents if we choose to be, we can make the change we want to see, just by starting with the little things. So...

Start a revolution, believe in life, listen to the sea, becoming the leader that you are meant to be... the leader that is within each of us.