A study conducted by Credit Suisse found that at a certain point, increasing the percentage of women in leadership increased profit.
Significantly, this doesn’t seem to be because of an increase in revenue but because of the way women lead.
WOMEN LEADERS DO THEIR HOMEWORK
I was educated in a traditional English girls’ grammar school led by a passionately intellectual ‘bluestocking’ Headmistress, and was surrounded by these hardworking, diligent young women and I see them all around me today.
When they come to meetings, they’ve done the pre-work. When they’re asked for facts, they have them. When they are asked to assess something, they do full due diligence.
Yes, this is not the fastest way to work, but it has a positive effect on profitability by avoiding costly mistakes.
Refusing to fly by the seat of their pants, they take their responsibility to heart. And it pays off for the company.
I’m not saying male leadership does not take its responsibility seriously but that women are more inclined to rely on diligence than confidence to get them through.
I’d also be crazy to suggest that all women do their homework better than all men, but research shows there are differences overall in leadership style and this can be one of them.
So if your company is led by cavalier men charging at the next opportunity, then will women slow them down? Maybe a little. But they may also make the company more money. Which has to be good!
