Audio By Carbonatix
Regardless of how far we’d like to believe gender equality in the workplace has come, there’s still a yawning gap between male and female leaders in the professional world.
A 2016 statistic shows that women currently hold just 5.8 percent of CEOs positions at S&P 500 companies, according to Catalyst.
While it’s not a huge shock that women are somewhat underrepresented in leadership positions, what is surprising though, is the fact that females may actually be better suited to lead in almost every area, at least according to new findings from the BI Norwegian Business School.
In their research, Professor Øyvind L. Martinsen and Professor Lars Glasø surveyed 2,900 managers with a special focus on personality types. The results were clear: Women scored higher than men in four of the five major leadership-centric categories.
“Businesses must always seek to attract customers and clients and to increase productivity and profits. Our results indicate that women naturally rank higher in general than men on ability to innovate and lead with clarity and impact,” explains Martinsen. “These findings pose a legitimate question about the construction of management hierarchy and the current dispensation of women in these roles.”
While some people believe that men inherently make better leaders—probably because they picture a leader as an imposing figure with a commanding voice, which is more typical of men than women—this piece of research suggests that women are better at methodical management and goal-setting, openness, sociability and supportiveness, as well as ability to innovate, take initiative, and communicate clearly.
There was one area in which men scored higher than women, though, and that was on emotional stability and ability to withstand job-related pressure and stress.
The results suggest that women are more sensitive to the effects of high-pressure or highly emotional situations.
“The survey suggests that female leaders may falter through their stronger tendency to worry—or lower emotional stability,” explains Glasø. “However, this does not negate the fact that they are decidedly more suited to management positions than their male counterparts.
If decision-makers ignore this truth, they could effectively be employing less qualified leaders and impairing productivity.” And in fact, one could argue that the very same qualities that make women sensitive to pressure—namely their sociability and supportiveness—are some of the very qualities that make them effective leaders.
Obviously, it’s important to consider individual differences. Anyone, regardless of gender, may be an inspiring leader and a competent boss. But next time you’re hiring for a management position, you just might want to give the resumes from female candidates a harder look.
Latest Stories
-
KGL U17 Colts 2026: Western beat Prempeh Elite Academy to set up final final with Greater Accra Region
7 minutes -
Late Solanke strike salvages 10-man Spurs draw at Man United
17 minutes -
Gender Ministry to monitor welfare of Nana Akua Addo’s children amid domestic violence case
24 minutes -
Benedict Okyere Yeboah: Ghana’s football problem goes beyond sacking a coach
33 minutes -
GPL 2026/27: Darkwah Wiafe’s winner sees All Blacks beat Kotoko
39 minutes -
ITF World Tour : Patel Wins Boys’ Singles Final at J100 Accra
52 minutes -
Ghana must pursue BRICS partnership if it brings economic benefits – Kpebu
55 minutes -
Success and Wright Claims J100 Accra Girls’ Doubles Championship
55 minutes -
ITF J100: America’s Wright wins J100 Accra Girls’ Singles Title
1 hour -
Expedition hopes to find aviator Amelia Earhart’s plane on remote island
1 hour -
US seeks changes to rejected $109m health compact with Ghana – Mahama
2 hours -
Nine dead in mass shooting at Pennsylvania home
2 hours -
‘Time for Ukraine to get new president,’ says Trump after Zelensky condemns diesel deal
2 hours -
Hincapie injury adds to Arsenal issues after Guimaraes rescue act
2 hours -
Henderson scores twice as Chelsea thumb Bournemouth
2 hours