Women in Leadership Role

This essay discusses the merits and demerits as well as why women face discrimination in the leadership roles of an organization.

Running head: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLE
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLE
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
This essay discusses the merits and demerits as well as why women face discrimination
in the leadership roles of an organization. Women in leadership role are a phenomenon, which
has been gaining attention from the last few decades. These days much of the young girls and
women graduate out from the colleges but the number of female leaders in United Kingdom
seems to be low. In the past years many of the researchers were appointed to find out the basic
difference between the male as well as the female leadership qualities, various challenges which
are faced by women in an organization. Various organizations in the world have different teams
along with different departments; they claim to and acknowledge the advantages of women
leaderships styles and roles in an organization. They also know the positive influence of the
women leaderships in the organization. But the traditional roles which are played at homes and
the male networking clubs makes it difficult for the women in making their way at the top most
position in the society. These days even though the organizations say that they offer equal role
and chances to the male as well as the female candidates. Nevertheless, the women as well as the
female leaders continue to face obstacles as well as other problems like gender discriminations in
the organization. In this paper, the history of women in the workforce will be outlined as well as
the challenges, which are faced by women in leadership roles
Literature Review
Women face discriminations just because the organizations find the communications
styles of a woman to be emotional when representing the leadership qualities. According to
Goethals and Hoyt (2017) they had made previous researches about the leadership role of

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women, had conducted a research works on the stereotyping of women. They had also conducted
a lot research reports which states that the communication style of a woman is very much
focused on the emotional, indirectly elaborated components whereas the communication style of
men are mostly compact, direct and instrumental. It has been often been recognized that women
faces discriminations in various organizations as because they are always seen putting family
first under all the circumstances. Further more women are not considered in supporting the
international opportunities. Taking the example of M&C company United Kingdom where the
directors assumes that most of the women in the organization find it very difficult more than the
men to leave their family in travelling various places in the world and relocating to some parts of
the world due to their work and professional life. This also leads to the unequal chances of
functioning of the leadership roles in an organization. On the other side, most of the women do
leave the organization to protect their child, which leads to a part time working for them in
organizations. Women do leave the company just to take care of their children. Women give up
their career, just to have a good family. The most difficult thing for a working female person is
maintaining a good balance between her personal life and her workplace. Some women face
problem in adjusting to the stress of both the things, thus they leave to look after their family.
Goethals and Hoyt (2017) conducted an interview, which included both the male leaders as well
as the female leaders to find out the difference between both the male and female workers in
leadership roles of an organization. However, in most of the cases women leave their job due to
fulltime childcare procedures, rest of the women leaves their job as because they are not
fulfilling enough and cannot lead a healthy life. This is the reason why many women start
working as part tie in various kinds of organizations. Many organizations still do offer part time
job for the working mothers. This is the reason why women lack in professional experience,

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which is the reason why they cannot make their way to the top of the leadership roles in an
organization. Women in leadership roles have a feeling that they are excluded from the
networking meeting where then tradition is to held up the meeting with men only. Often it
happens that after the meeting is over men generally do meet up with the male friends only
where the female members feel that they are ignored. Women also have a feeling that they are
excluded from the networking meetings. It has been often found out that women are less likely to
take part in the networking events just because of their family work balance. It has also been
recognized that women have a less success in the networking as because they use it to gain some
social support whereas the male gender use it to gain a career growth. Many organizations still
do not offer ample mentoring opportunities especially for the women in their work place.
Different organization provides a male mentor to the women so that it becomes easier for them to
communicate and have an easier access to the leadership role.
Another author Rhode (2017) had made a research report where he argued about the
gender gap in being the CEO of the organization where he argues that according to his survey
report 9% of women and 12% of men agreed that women have more interpersonal skills as well
as they show more empathy than the men. The finding of his report on women and their
communication styles confirms that women are seen to be less competent than the men as
because the female leaders do not show the male skill that is being assertive in an organization.
For this reason the communication style of women is better than the communication style of a
man as because leading with the help of heart and mind are the skills which are required by a
leader in the present era. Therefore the leaders need to have the skills in communication so as to
recognize the emotion and then using it to influence the emotions of the employees working in
an organization. Leaders who are emotionally intelligent enough are better in the field of

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identifying the emotional needs in any situations. The ability of having the power of emotionally
intelligence can lead to the management of the emotions of oneself as well as the emotions of the
respective employees. This can also lead to the achievement of positive workplace surroundings
that can also lead to a better employee in respect to performance and motivational activities. The
characteristics such as the masculine assertiveness as well as self-reliance, which are present in a
woman, are the indicators of an effective leadership style. The researcher confirms that the
female gender leadership style and communication styles always lead to a better performance.
Still in many organizations, women suffer from the gender biased from the men.
In the words of Goethals and Hoyt (2017) women in leadership roles boosts the
productivity of the organization. Men on the other hand are considered less emotional and the
decisions, which they take, are based on the feedback from the respective departments. Men are
not much active when it comes to social welfare issues of an organization. The only factor which
the organization’s managerial department values is the increase in the employee’s production to
the organization. If an employee is working under a female boss, this can encourage the
development of the employee in the organization. They are likely to feel that their female boss
will be helping them by encouraging them in their work and personal development. As a result,
the women leaders are more inclined than the men to see higher expectations, voter hesitation as
well as lack of institutional supports acts as major obstacles in the female political leadership.
Thus, women are known to be cultivating the potential, which they see in the employees of the
organization by encouraging them to pursue each potential.
Women as a leader are known to be more patient as well as more understanding that the
men in an organization. Their determination towards work is also very evident when it comes to
implement an order or new policy in the organization. Christine Lagrade who is the managing

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director of the International Monetary Fund, Julia Gillard the former Australian Prime Minister
can be taken as examples of how the women leaders can determine the policies, which are to be
implemented. Rhode (2017) argues that women can be better leaders than the men can. The
understanding as well as the emotional aspects of women portray out the motherly feelings in the
management, which makes them better leaders than the men. Women are known to have a lot of
more patience than men do in every scenario. Without thinking the possible outcome, women do
not rush into things easily. It is known to them that the decisions, which will be taken, are not to
be made in a hurry. Therefore, the take a deep breath in, and take decisions. When it comes to
business solutions, female leaders dig deeper when jumping into conclusion. They are also
known to handle stress more effectively and efficiently than men do. Getting stressed up can blur
the decision making capabilities at many times, then taking certain important decisions can ruin
the chances of getting the appraisal in the company. It is always seen that people are making fun
of the women leaders as because they are seen to be making fun or being very talkative.
However, this does not mean that they always talk anything which comes into their mind.
Why women should be promoted as leaders in an organization.
Among the reasons why should women be promoted in making better managers when
compared with men is their ability in effectively engaging the employees of the organization.
Besides, Goethals and Hoyt (2017) says that women are popularly known to be highly emotional
individuals which they use as advantage when are in their managerial position. Women can be
very effective when reacting to certain information of the employee when in a problematic
situation. In the times of happiness, the female leaders can better understand the mindset and
emotion of the employee; the female managers are personally touched in such cases. This makes
the employees feel glad and highly valued. Women are always good at collaborating with people

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and can bring everyone together. They are always free in working with everyone together.
Women in leadership roles are always accustomed in playing different roles as because the
women are the homemakers. It is known to them how to make everyone happy, which is a very
good advantage to an organization. Whereas when talking about the men in an organization.
They use the alpha-male characteristic in order to direct the employees and leading them to
achieve the organization goal. This can be good way but at times this method will not work when
managing a full team of employees. Women as leaders are likely to work in a team, share the
views of each other and implement new ideas as well as find solutions to the problem, which are
faced by the employees regarding a major problem. There is also a need to develop a woman –
friendly culture in the society as well as in the business environment. Therefore, unless the
women are treated equally and are not assessed based on their gender, but on their skills and
talents they cannot make their move to the leadership positions of an organization. Flexibility of
work programs in order to suit the women employees. Flexible work schedules such as providing
few days of remote work to the female employees can be very encouraging. The employees can
thus spend their time at home with her children or her family.
However, according to Goethals and Hoyt (2017) a difference in the wage and salaries
between the men and women is a great challenge, which is faced in the workplace. It is still
found that a woman earns less than man does. Women in workplace are still falling under the
prey of sexual harassment. Organizations should have an option of career mapping for its
employees after they are completing their probation period in the organization. Development of
plans, assignments, promotions as well as networking opportunities should be kept equal for both
the men and women working in the company. This helps the women to be aware of the

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opportunities, which will be helping them in developing themselves at higher levels in their
career. This sharpens their visibility in rising to the top level of the management.
Women are generally seen to be more engaging than the men in an organization. They are
more likely to be seen stopping at the employee’s desk and having a chat in order to ask about
the employee’s individual progress in the organization and about their family and loved ones. A
female leader in an organization is seen to be more interested in finding out how the employee’s
children are performing in the school, also how the wife and the husband is doing . Therefore, a
close personal bond of friendship is established between the female leader and the employee of
the organization who is working under her. Further, the female leaders are fast in praising an
employee when he or she is is recognized with a good work and effort given.
According to Rhode (2017) women are known to have a unique ability in order to think
rationally almost about every opportunities and problems. They are known to have perfection
and communicate tactfully when communicating with people and signing a business deal The
soft skills which are applied by them help them in cooperating the world effectively and
efficiently. If a company’s communication system is flowing in a better manner then it can be a
leading company in the next future. It has been observed by Rhode (2017) that men prefer action
to word; women always prefer talking with the employee with the problem and concluding with
a proper discussion. Women in leadership role also have great listening capabilities, which is the
reason why they can relate with the employee and consumers concern. For a woman in
leadership it is a prideful opportunity when they see other people who are individually growing
under a team. They always want people to move forward in their lives, which is the reason why
they motivate people in their own team. This is a popular trait of woman which each and every
leader should posses so that the employees can communicate with the leaders very easily.

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Findings and Discussion
In many parts of the world women as well as the female leaders, face various types of
discrimination due to their leadership roles and communication skills. A female leadership style
as well as communication style is just the opposite from the ale leadership style and
communication style as because the male leadership roles tends to be more effective. Despite
various benefits company leaderships around the world remains unbalanced with the women and
female leaders, which accounts for less than a quarter of the management positions all around the
world. Never the less if the organizations can bridge the gender gap if they implement few
strategies and move on the workforce towards a greater leadership role.
1. Promoting a better culture
Creating more opportunities for the women starts with creating a better
environment. Specific efforts should be implemented in recruiting the women in various
types of leadership roles in a corporate business culture. But is useless to create such
environment if the company does not encourage a proper work culture where the women
and female leader can succeed in their career and reach at the top.
2. Investing in companies which can champion the gender diversity
The business enterprises can also have a very good impact on the gender equality
by investing in the companies, which are initiating the change also, claims that the male
centric organizations cannot be used in order to promote the gender equality. Therefore, it
is the tie for the women to start their own business and invest in their new plans. There
are many joint venture companies, which are promoting the female joint venture firms
and see to work on diversity, which is the main problem. 112 Capital is an international

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firm, which has invested in the leading female tech companies. Whereas the Jump Fund
Company focuses on the female leading joint – venture companies in the southeastern
parts of US. In a bigger scale if these types of companies start growing and help the
female led companies, then a new wave of the female executives will be given birth.
3. Making the results public
The opportunities of the female executives at the company can be improved, but inspiring
the other companies worldwide is where the major battle lies. The only way to do so is by
making the female leaders visible. CEO of Keds, was invited in an industry event, where
she had shared her invitation with all her female colleagues in the organization. Women
should be encouraged to be visible in various type of public speaking, and the entire team
should be encouraging them in various public speaking events and also in activities
outside the work or industry.
According to my opinion the organizations needs to seriously consider women for
various positions and places for the opportunities in front of them which challenges them and
make them more promotable. HR leaders in various organizations can also put forward various
programs in order to help the women prepare themselves for the promotion and leadership roles.
I think women can be offered training, coaching, as well as career development opportunities,
which can help them to move into the higher management roles in the organization.
Conclusion
In order to summarize the essay, it can be said that women and female leaders still face
various types of discrimination in an organization due to their communication skills, genders
based assumptions. A female communication style is almost the opposite of the men leadership

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style. However, it can be said that the emotional intelligence of a woman in an organization
always has an positive impact in the employees and their production in the organization. Still
women lacks authority due the increase in the male communication style. To conclude it can be
said that women and female leadership still rules the organizations and societies. The
organizations should provide mentors in order to increase the access of female leaders in the
organization. In this way the barriers of gender can overcome and the female leaders in an
organization can get more chances to climb up the ladder.

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References
Goethals, G.R. and Hoyt, C.L., 2017. Women and leadership: History, theories, and case studies.
Rhode, D.L., 2017. Women and leadership. Oxford University Press.