Wondering if women can take up leadership roles and lead perfectly? Do you think the responsibilities of being a leader is assigned to a woman as well? Well, we’ll find out in this article!
#Leadership is defined as the action of leading a group of people or an organization.
The ability of an individual or group of individuals to influence and guide followers or other members of an organization is also referred to as Leadership. Anyone can take up leadership and has the rights to lead whether being a male or a female. Leadership isn’t determined by your age, social status, class or background. It is not denied that the rights to leadership have been deprived from women long before now and is still happening in some parts of the world.
In Africa, especially Nigeria, since 1960 ,were she gained her independence, no female has emerged as president not because they can’t but because of how the society has made the environment unsafe for women and the beliefs that women can’t and won’t lead properly if being given the chance to. Most people question what women can offer if the roles of leadership is given to them. While others holds the belief that women would be aggressive or bossy if they take up this responsibility. Women have so much to offer and every woman and young girl has the potentials of leadership embedded in them.
Every organization, Country or nation needs a leader irrespective of their size, functions or date of formation.
A leaderless organization is a muddle of men and machine.
A society without a leader is a violent and harmful place to live in. Women are gradually making their leadership presence felt in entrepreneurship, administration, health and education settings at regional, national and global levels. There are platforms today that gives women the opportunity to express leadership. An example of this is Pageantry. Pageant organizations today give women the platform to be impacted, impact others, lead and inspire people they become role models to.
Leadership isn’t only executed in form of political powers or offices. One can be a leader at home, in schools, offices or business places, etc. A leader is someone who leads and direct a group of people or organization towards the realization of a goal. A leader encourages and influences the people they lead towards achieving their goals. A leader should posses these qualities: honesty, loyalty, transparency, forgiveness and should be a listener. A leader is a follower and the roles of leading isn’t assigned to a specific gender.
Characteristics of Women Leadership
Leadership skills are acquired and shown by both male and female and there are certain differences in the qualities and traits possessed by a male and female leaders. For a woman it includes:
Transformational Leadership Style: women leaders are very transformational. They serve as role models to people they lead and inspire them. Women leaders emphasizes on teamwork and sees communication as a key to success. For most female leaders, leadership isn’t only about accomplishing organizational goals but transforming their followers into better people. They spend time coaching their team members as this would enhance growth and the development of the individuals.
Task-Focused: women leaders are focused on completing of tasks given to the team members within deadlines. They understand day to day tasks are necessary because it’ll ensure a smooth functioning of the organization. And will enable the team members to develop and discover skills
Collaboration and Cooperation: working in collaboration with others is a feminine characteristic. About 70-80% of women have the spirit of collaboration in them. Women leaders promotes peace and oneness and makes the members of the team know their roles.
Importance of Women Leadership
Leadership by women is essential to increase the pace of societal transformation at home and in the workplace. The importance of women leadership are as follows:
Women Unify Diverse Groups: Diversity refers to the existence of different people with different interests, characteristics, and attributes. A woman leader sees diversity as an advantage to secure a balanced and Unique relationship in a group.
Women Improve Interpersonal Relationships: women are rated high when it comes to building relationships. Women leaders unites their team members and make them have the understanding of oneness. Early 2nd half of the year, I was enrolled in a coaching school “The Coaches.Com” which was operated by two pretty female leaders. They created a bond between other students and I. They made us see each other as family and we formed that sisterhood which enabled each of us give our support as well as encouragements in achieving our goals.
Women Embrace Collaboration: Earlier explained collaboration is a trait found in women. To act willingly together with other members to attain a common pursuit. Collaboration makes women do better in their career field as the support remains with them. Women leaders understands the individual’s needs and aspirations and interact with them on a personalized tone.
Ways to Promote Women Leadership
Promoting women leadership enables the females in the society know their worth, use their voices and take up space. Leadership isn’t assigned to a specific gender. Three ways to promote women leadership are:
A) Supportive Family: The family being the basic institution of socialization. The family is where the child begins to learn the basic things and ways of life. As women who wants to take up leadership having a supportive family plays a vital role in our lives in terms of inspiration, empowerment and as an influencing factor. Most of the richest, successful people in the world are results from their family. Not letting their family background define them but striving to do better as an individual with words of encouragement from their homes. Every family should make their homes a sanctuary for leadership practices. Giving roles of leadership to not just the male child but also letting the female gender occupy leadership positions. Leadership does not only apply to political offices. It could be practiced at home, schools, etc.
B) Good Education: Education which is key and a tool to success is and should the paramount thing a leader places in his/her life. Giving quality education to females we inspire to be leaders is very necessary. Educating them that they have the potentials of being a leader in them and letting them know leadership is determined by gender, size, age, etc. Also empowering them.
C) A Safe Environment: Having a safe and secured environment is a tool to promote women leadership. An environment that gives women the right to speak and take up space promotes women leadership and enhances the females to see themselves as leaders instead of showing less concern and apathy in leadership. An environment that creates opportunities for women to lead builds their self-confidence, build their trust and enables them to become effective leaders.
“Every women/girl child has the potentials of leadership in her, teach her to be the woman she should because the future is female”
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