women's leadership style isn't the same as men

NAWBO is a national organization of women business owners. At a NAWBO chapter meeting tonight, Rosemary Bova, a women's leadership consultant from New York, went around the room asking about one thing we learned from our mothers. There were two camps. A large number of us came up with strong lessons more commonly associated with fathers. The rest of the room acknowledged what they did not get from their mothers - and therefore what they had been working to overcome or reverse in their own lives.

The discussion it prompted was about roles we all take on based on our experience, not because it's right or wrong but because that is the way it was back then and often we don't take time to consider that things could be different.

The richness of the authenticity was very satisfying for everyone. The insights and connections this discussion engendered were immediate and direct.

I loved the recognition around the room that just as men are not superior to women and need not be treated as better than us, neither are we better than them. Rather we all need to strive for a balance because both genders bring strong inherent assets to the table. Men are very good at the concrete, facts&figures, hard decisions. Women are much more inclusive in their leadership and management styles. Often the people come first for women leaders.

Is this a weakness? As a person, I don't think so. As a leader, again I don't think so. But can a leader be consumed by care and compassion at the expense of the bottom line - yes. And no leader is serving their business, clients or staff well, if such care destroys the business itself. The key goes back to that balance of strengths. Each of us must cultivate some of both sets of traits to successfully navigate the path of leadership.