Hummm …. Leadership is NOT carrying a bigger hammer than everybody or creating something that is so seductive and addictive that it essentially turns into a “drug addiction” and people “use” it because they can’t quit not because of the value they derive from it.
In my “adventures” of being a human I have seen a few good leaders first hand but the numbers are remarkably low. Something I did recognize was, women in leadership positions tended to lead from a different paradigm.
You may have heard “little boys” on the playground saying something like “You pitch like a girl”. Male business leaders that empower people and don’t want to be the “Commandant” of their company seem to lead differently … they “Lead more like a girl” … more like Greta and Malala. Maybe most are not as global as Greta or Malala but some have this different paradigm.
My first conscious thoughts about the difference in male and female leadership began to surface when, as a male, I attended a 100% women’s liberal arts college in Virginia. Nope, it was not a gender change, but they had started an off campus adult degree program and men were allowed to attend. I began attending at what was probably the very first year of this program. They maintained much of their culture as they had on their main campus and it turned out to be very enlightening.
So guys … you need to learn how to “Lead more like a girl”.
And maybe my experience at this all woman’s college can be a subject of my own future essay I can post here.
Below is an essay I wrote just a few days ago that ended up in the StartUp here on Medium. I am not sure I am supposed to self-promote but it might be worth a few minutes read if you liked this essay by Umair.
