TKO Book Snippets Leadership TKO for Women | Page 2

Introduction

Leadership itself is a very broad concept , and various theories and styles of leadership exist . Female leadership is just one branch of this concept and can also be defined in different ways . Some understand female leadership as the fact that women can be and are leaders ; others may define it from a feminist point of view , and as a matter of equality and the right to have the same opportunities . Female leadership is most commonly defined by the differences between femininity and masculinity . The characteristics that are considered to influence decision making , problem solving and achievements are often compared . The aim of this discussion is to emphasize the value and benefits of feminine characteristics in leadership today and the benefits diversity brings to organizations / businesses and life itself .

There are many other differences between the masculine and feminine behaviour such as communication , the way of understanding reality and authority . Feminine way of communicating is horizontal , which means that it strengthens the relationships between people , creates team spirit and equality . Masculine way of communicating is vertical , involving the idea hierarchical relationships and giving information from top downwards . This way of communicating accentuates authority . Women ' s educational level is high in many parts of the world today in which women are outperforming men and thus women do not lack competence or knowhow when it comes to demanding positions . Nevertheless , the number of female leaders is low in many parts of the world . In this discussion , the authors will demonstrate what the situation of female leaders is globally , and how it has changed .