Man up. Grow a pair. Be a man about it. It's time to throw out the old vernacular and embrace feminine leadership traits. This International Women's Day, check out 12 management strategies that work. Championed by women, open to all.
FORGET FIGHT OR FLIGHT, TRY TEND OR BEFRIEND: According to Shelley Taylor Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, ditching the macho response to stress means you get the best out of yourself and your team. Using tend/befriend, you can learn to reach out, build trust, and defuse conflict.
...AND REAP THE REWARDS: Creating strong social bonds in the workplace helps to alleviate stress and has a host of other benefits. Research by psychologist Tiffany Field, anthropologist Jay Kaplan and others found that a "tend or befriend" approach also results in improved immune function and improves moods.
ASK FOR FEEDBACK: No one enjoys criticism, but when it is fair and constructive, it can really help you hone your leadership skills. Female leaders have to be pretty good at asking for feedback - because otherwise they won't get it. According to research by Harvard Business Review, women are far more likely to receive "vague" or irrelevant feedback, which affects their chances of promotion and pay rises.
TAKE THE INITIATIVE: Women don't wait to be told to act, they do what needs to be done. Business Insider's research found that women are far more likely to take the initiative than men. Why? Because women already assume the responsibility for the majority of life's daily tasks, from household chores to rearing children. This can be a huge benefit in professional life.
DEVELOP THICK SKIN: Until recently, many industries were dominated by men. Cassandra Stavrou, who founded posh popcorn brand Propercorn in 2011, tells Management Today: "The world of manufacturing is dominated by big burly men in industrial estates. Being a young girl with no proven track record and experience, it was incredibly hard to get them to take me seriously. I'd be greeted with, 'Hello, young lady'. But I don't tolerate it. I call people out on it."
EMPOWER OTHERS: According to Gallup, people who work for female leaders are more engaged, as female managers are 1.17 times more likely to praise their employees at least once every week.
...ESPECIALLy OTHER WOMEN: Be an agent of change within your business, and help talented women rise. Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State and UN ambassador once said, "There's a special place in hell for women who do not help other women."
ADMIT FAILURE: Women are willing to put their hands up when they make mistakes. As Jan Cavelle, Management Today columnist, writes: "I am human. I messed up. And that's ok." In her book "Mistakes I Made at Work", Jessica Bacal tells 25 tales of humiliation and failure from women who have messed up and lived to tell the tale. These women all claim that owning up helped pave the way for their future success.
COLLABORATE: Women outperform men in collaborative problem-solving, according to a recent study, published by the OECD. "[Women] show more positive attitudes towards relationships, meaning that they tend to be more interested in others’ opinions and want others to succeed," says Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills at the OECD. Collaboration is an important skill when working in teams and supporting colleagues.
MULTITASK: Several studies have shown that women are better at juggling multiple tasks than men. But scientists have finally explained why: the effect of oestrogen on the brain enhances cognitive control. This means women are able to undertake several complex tasks at once, making them more productive and efficient.
INNOVATE: Women are natural innovators, and can come up with inventive solutions to most business problems. A recent study, led by Professor Øyvind L. Martinsen, head of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the BI Norwegian Business School, found that women have a greater capacity for innovation than men, demonstrating both curiosity and ambitious vision. "The results indicate that, as regards personality, women are better suited for leadership than their male colleagues when it comes to clarity, innovation, support and targeted meticulousness," said the research.
SELF-DEVELOPMENT: Women have a great capacity for learning, and are more likely to spend time improving their minds than men. A study by the University of Georgia and Columbia University found that women tend to have a better approach to acquiring new skills: they are more attentive, flexible, and organised. Knowledge and information is power, especially in the workplace.