Patricia Wallington on Distinct Challenges for Women Leaders

CIO — Is there really such a phenomenon as a female leader? Or are there only leaders who happen to be females? I have to admit I approach this topic with some trepidation. Stereotyping is not one of my favorite pastimes. That said, however, my experience tells me that there are some typically challenging aspects of leadership for women, as well as for their colleagues, their followers and their bosses.

For Women Leaders

Let me start with the former. For women who are or aspire to be leaders, I’ve found the following ideas can provide some helpful guidance.

On being yourself. It is very important to know yourself. Do not let others define you. There were times in my career when others told me what I "should" do or be as a "woman manager." Most often this conflicted with my natural inclinations. What we should be is ourselves. No one can be better at being you than you can. Cherish your uniqueness! Be brutally honest in assessing your strengths and weaknesses. It was only when I reached this conclusion that I developed the confidence to really succeed.

On speaking out. Though not rare, it is still uncommon to find women in senior positions of leadership. So when a woman does achieve that status, the spotlight is brightly focused on her every action, good or bad, and her every success or failure. Learning to deal with this level of visibility takes some practice. Don’t use it as an excuse to avoid the risks and the tough actions.

Being seen is not enough. You must also be heard. Unfortunately, business still pays homage to the male voice. Do not let that silence you! Take a deep breath and speak up, speak out, give voice to your ideas. No need to be strident, but it’s critical to be heard. So be persistent. It may be a failure of the listener, but the fact remains that not being heard equates to not being followed. And a leader without followers is not a leader.

On belonging. OK, so you don’t golf or play tennis. Is your career doomed? I don’t think so. In my career I tended to resist artificial fun--that is, recreation that was really work. Belong to the team, be respected for your contributions. Pursue the extracurricular activities that interest you and build your network around them. Participate in multiple groups as a way to broaden and balance your life. Making the job your whole life is neither healthy nor productive for you or the company.

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