Masculine vs Feminine Leadership Traits


The habit of labeling personality traits as either masculine or feminine can often create bothersome sexual stereotypes. It is not all black and white. But, making generalizations can be an easy way to think about effective leadership styles and important leadership traits.


In leadership positions women tend to utilize several traditionally "feminine" personality traits. These include advanced communication skills, problem solving skills, and the ability to foster a team environment. Women are said to be more empathetic and more inclusive than men when making group decisions.


Men on the other hand tend to be more commercial-driven and goal oriented than women. They prefer competition over cooperation, and prefer a hierarchical structure in the workplace over a flat structure more often than females.



Both feminine and masculine leadership styles are crucial to a dynamic workplace. Using a variety of tactics that compliment the situation at hand has the greatest chance at success. Using a mix of these leadership tactics will inspire others to effectively work toward a cohesive, unified vision.