Game-Changing Small Business Strategy Revealed

The Dominance of Masculine Traits

The latest Star Wars movie, “The Rise of Skywalker,” inspired me to think more about archetypical masculine and feminine elements of leadership. The hero of the movie is Rey, a woman who trains to become a Jedi, fights the dark side and consistently resists the urge to surrender to the attraction of power. She is a great leadership role model who models masculine energies: She is courageous, she dares to fight for what she believes in and she is physically and emotionally strong. She also displays feminine energies: She is aware of her fears, she shares them with the people she loves, she cries and she cares for those around her.

Before diving deeper into the why, how and what of masculine and feminine behaviors, let us define feminine and masculine archetypes. I am not talking male or female but archetypes: Some archetypically feminine leadership traits are caring, patient, empathetic and nurturing; some archetypically masculine traits are decisive, action-driven, individualistic and protective.

I vividly remember some of the feedback that my board chairman gave me after a board meeting in which I had expressed doubts about reaching the sales target for the year. After the meeting, he called me and said, “You should not be so vulnerable.” I asked him what he meant and he referred to my talking about my doubts about our annual sales target. This was before the rise of Brené Brown’s 2010 TED talk about the power of vulnerability, in which she created a strong case for vulnerability as a trust-builder.

She has reversed the traditional idea “first trust, than vulnerability” into “vulnerability creates trust.” This article calls for more balance between feminine and masculine leadership behaviors, especially in corporate organizations. I believe more balance will bring more psychological safety.

Subconscious Masculine-Origin Behavior

Traditionally the notion of leadership is strongly dominated by more masculine traits. When I ask people to define a leader, they usually come up with the notion of a courageous, charismatic and decisive father figure. Don’t get me wrong: All of these traits are highly relevant for good leadership. But I believe that the dominance of one energy or image is not a good thing.

If a leader develops an ambidextrous connection with his masculine and feminine mindsets and behaviors, she or he will become even more trusted, authentic and effective. The fact that women hold less than 6% of CEO positions in S&P 500 firms is just a top-of-the-iceberg indicator. If I go into the daily bloodstream of organizational life, I see lots of subconscious and subtle masculine-origin behavior, such as talking about the results of (male) sports teams at the beginning of meetings, a passion for cars, little competitions to trigger collaboration, betting on the Super Bowl, a lot of debate in meetings, etc.

Feminine Leadership in Corporate America

Below is a personal list of what I consider specifically feminine leadership behaviors. It is by no means exhaustive or scientific, and you can argue whether any of these practices can be labeled as purely feminine or masculine. It is an invitation to experiment with leadership behaviors that add to your style flexibility and effectiveness.

• Become more aware of your own feelings in certain situations. Research shows that the ability to put a label on how you’re feeling or “affect labeling” is key to managing emotions effectively. Knowing how you feel is the basis of emotional intelligence.
• Start meetings with a personal check-in. Invite people to share how they feel. It brings the whole human being to the table and creates openness and trust. You can do this by simply saying, “Let’s start our meeting with a more personal check-in. Let’s do a round of ‘how do you feel?'”
• Ask for help. According to Brené Brown, asking for help is the No. 1 trust builder.
• Focus and label the progress that has been made. Do this with certain initiatives or projects more explicitly. Research has shown that focusing on progress can increase motivation and engagement.

The Power of Re-Thinking

The importance of adapting to changing circumstances and market conditions cannot be overstated. The world is rapidly changing, and businesses must be willing to rethink their approach to stay ahead of the curve.

Re-Thinking Entrepreneurship

David McCourt, an Irish-American entrepreneur, argues that to succeed in today’s rapidly changing world, entrepreneurs must be willing to rethink everything. Gone are the days when incremental steps forward were enough to be successful. To overcome the oncoming challenges and to take advantage of opportunities that are emerging, you need to think like a revolutionary.

According to McCourt, the ability to rethink is crucial for entrepreneurs. He believes that most people will tell you to work on your weakness, but there is empirical data that says you can improve your strengths almost infinitely and do little to improve your weaknesses. Rethinking is about identifying your strengths and working on those, and it is also about learning to tell your story and explain your idea in a way that resonates with others.

Lessons from David McCourt

I recently had the opportunity to interview David McCourt about what it will take to succeed in a world that is rapidly evolving. McCourt believes that the little guy, the entrepreneur, has an advantage in today’s world. He argues that if you take on the big guy, the world will reward you, and that the ability to rethink is key to success.

McCourt also believes that the ability to adapt is crucial. He argues that you have to be willing to avoid, alter or accept everything. Those are your choices. Navigating life and business is tough, and there is always someone who’s worse off than you. Be grateful and work with what you have. Accept what won’t change, but don’t quit, instead rethink what you need to do.

Practical Applications

Embracing flexibility is crucial in today’s rapidly changing world. Leaders must be willing to adapt to changing circumstances and market conditions. This means being open to new ideas and willing to pivot when necessary.

Embracing Flexibility

Research has shown that embracing flexibility can increase motivation and engagement. It can also increase creativity and innovation. When leaders are willing to adapt, they are more likely to be successful in today’s rapidly changing world.

Rethinking Your Approach

Rethinking your approach to business and innovation is crucial in today’s rapidly changing world. Leaders must be willing to rethink their approach and adapt to changing circumstances and market conditions.

Fostering a Culture of Vulnerability

Fostering a culture of vulnerability is crucial in today’s rapidly changing world. Leaders must be willing to be vulnerable and open to new ideas and perspectives. This means creating a culture of transparency and openness, where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.

Creating a culture of vulnerability is not easy, but it is crucial for success in today’s rapidly changing world. It requires leaders to be willing to be vulnerable and open, and to create a culture of transparency and openness. When leaders foster a culture of vulnerability, they are more likely to be successful and achieve their goals.