The Future-Focused Female Leader

INTRODUCTION Female Leadership Matters The Oxford Online Dictionary describes leadership as the action of leading a group of people or an organization to achieve a specific goal. It is about challenging the status quo and taking risks. Leaders motivate others to achieve something new and better. There is no sector or area of life where leaders are not needed. Leaders are essential to the evolution of life and the progression of organizations. Leadership and its relevance to organizations is a well-researched and documented subject, and leadership has been a trending topic for ages across different age groups. Equally well-researched is female leadership and the female leadership advantage. Sadly, women have historically been underrepresented in leadership positions across private and public organizations around the globe. Thankfully, the working landscape is changing, and the business world is no longer just a man’s game. However, competing in this challenging environment is not easy for women, especially for those striving for leadership positions. Yet organizational research suggests that female leaders bring a unique combination of leadership traits, attributes, and behaviors to the workplace that are advantageous. In today’s world, organizations that are led by inclusive leadership teams make effective decisions that deliver better result. In the twenty-first century, the essential qualities required to lead include the ability to collaborate, connect, empathize and communicate. All these qualities are feminine in nature and can help build a more sustainable future. Yet, women in leadership still face numerous challenges, from experienced women leaders to the upcoming young lady looking to make a leadership debut. Research has found that the global share of women in senior management roles is building momentum, but there is a lot of room for improvement. The Future of Female Leadership Many statistics show that companies led by women have better financial results. The Frontiers in Psychology states that female leaders received praise for their outstanding leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 - 2021. Three women stood out: Angela Merkel of Germany, Jacinda Ardern Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, and Tsai Ing-Wen of Taiwan. They received recognition because of their “care, empathy, and collaborative approach.” A McKinsey research shows companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the bottom. According to research from academics from the Universities of Glasgow and Leicester , companies with more than 30% female executives were more likely to outperform companies that don’t. However, in 2022, only 15% of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies are women. Only eight women, no women of colour, are currently employed as CEOs in the FSTE 100, while women hold only 14% of executive directorships and 38% of all directorships, according to the Fawcett Society’s Sex and Power report 2022. Women in leadership are the future and they should push for greater impact. In a world dominated by male leaders, it is critical that females change the status quo. From highlighting the gender-based issues to presenting solutions to solving them, inspirational female business leaders do it all. Future-focused female leaders are the ones that will making concerted efforts, now and in the future to …  Challenge and change the narative, making organizations and communities more equitable for everyone, envisioning a world where women get the same opportunities as men.  Inspire other females to join the workforce and leadership thus increasing the society’s dependence on female workers.  Bring diversity to the table. Where men are more assertive, headstrong, and risk-taking, women bring in more rationality, soundness of character, and stability to an organization.  Demonstrate superior leadership qualities. Good leaders possess attributes like honesty, intelligence, innovation, and compassion, women score higher in most of these categories.  Act as role models to others. Other women can look up to them, learn from them to take charge, and live their dreams to the fullest.  Make the workplace less toxic. Companies headed by female leaders have employees that are relatively more content in their jobs.  Enhance cross collaboration. The overall disposition of female leaders helps them approach potential clients and partners and formulate longer-term business relationships.  Raise the voice for minorities. There is always a clear difference in how male leaders and female leaders support minorities.  Offer fresh new perspectives on old issues. With more female leaders, the world may finally be able to witness leaders prioritizing things like climate change, and global food poverty.  Be great mentors. Allowing talented youths, the Gen-Zs, to come forward and achieve their full potential under Leadership by women is vital to increase the pace of societal transformation at home and in the workplace. Women leaders are likely to provide an integrated view of work and family, resulting in an engaged and promising personal and professional future. Female leaders of the future must take ownership of their skills, abilities and to take purposeful action and push the boundaries for growing the business or organization that they are a part of. Being able to lead with confidence is dependent on having the right qualities.