How to Develop a Leadership Personality as a Woman

The Harvard Business Review states that as leaders, women were rated higher by their coworkers, bosses, and associates. The report further stated that apart from excelling at leadership, traditional women's strengths, like nurturing mentoring and building relationships, also play a key role in developing their leadership personality. They are more adept at managing crises and conservative in matters involving money, and skilled at managing clients and teams.  

However, if you are confused and wondering how to develop leadership skills, we will provide some simple skills. These are some of the most common leadership traits observed among successful leaders. Hence, you can proceed with the article if you wish to develop a leadership personality.  

Lead By Example 

Women leaders know they must lead by example and practice what they preach. One of the common characteristics of female leaders is the ability to self-motivate and motivate others. Organizations also tend to prefer women with a strong sense of purpose for their abilities, persona, and leadership values that can inspire others to achieve their target. Therefore, create a plan to achieve your goals and develop the ability to measure them. One of the most critical leadership personality traits is translating visions into words and actions.  

Become Dependable  

Women in leadership roles must develop the habit of doing the job with little supervision. If you can set an example of doing your work brilliantly and performing above expectations, people might look up to you and follow your example. While you can quickly establish your reputation by being someone they expect you to be, it Is the personality of a leader to exceed one’s expectations and prove their commitment and dependability to excellence.  

Become Emotionally Intelligent  

Displaying a professional demeanor and behaving maturely are characteristics of female leaders. It is the personality of a leader to display level-headedness and emotionally intelligent leadership behaviors. Others tend to follow suit when you create such an environment. You must display cultural sensitization and good business etiquette if you are socializing with people from different cultures and nations. As a woman in a leadership role, you are free to express your feelings and motivations, but they must be in accord with your values, preferences, and needs.  

Read Also: How to Leverage Leadership EQ 

Be Open to New Ideas 

One of the most critical leadership personality traits is adaptability. Being open to new ideas and recognizing that there is more than one way of doing something are characteristics of female leaders. A leader has to bring fresh ideas and add value to the business. If you can adapt to the changing trends, you will be effective as a leader and help your career in the long run. Successful women leaders can initiate the ideation process and manage multiple ideas that can contribute towards innovation.   

Delegate And Motivate  

If you are wondering how to develop leadership skills, then you must be willing to delegate your tasks to others. While a leader should be able to assign a task to the best person, it is only one part of the job. It is the leader's personality to provide support and encouragement to boost the team's morale. Leaders are responsible for getting the best out of their employees and use effective tactics to maximize coherency in the team. If you can delegate your work to others and give them credit when the job is well accomplished, it will encourage others to do the same. Since women in leadership roles are responsible for several things, delegating their work to others can also lighten their workload.         

Become a Positive Influence  

One of the most critical leadership personality traits is displaying grace under pressure. It is the characteristic of women leaders to navigate difficult situations with poise and grace. You will often face problems when one team member becomes negative. But you should not be affected by it and, instead, be a positive influence on others. This can not only uplift the attitude of your team but also provide positive results. While you may be optimistic by nature, you can easily develop a positive attitude with enough time and practice.    

Make Yourself Indispensable 

To make yourself valuable to your organization, you must acquire power and influence in the workplace. Try to focus on some specific tasks that only you can master and that can add value to your team. This will make you indispensable. Going the extra mile while working on a project can expand your influence and network. You can look for career advancement opportunities to expand your influence.    

Read Also: Transformational Leadership – What is it?

Mentor Young Women Leaders 

Another vital characteristic of female leaders is mentoring young women leaders for success. Most young women seek out mentors at the beginning of their careers, and women in leadership roles are ideal for that position. Apart from the leadership concepts, you can also make them aware of other women leaders' challenges. From creating leadership groups to leadership networks to leadership assessment programs, there are several tools that you can employ to help and guide them.  

Women and leadership used to be considered an odd combination earlier. However, these days several women are securing leadership roles in large organizations. While the gender of the leader plays hardly any role in one’s ability to manage the team, if you are still wondering how to develop leadership skills, then the points mentioned above can come in handy.