Published on November 1, 2021
Last week, Sara Blakely sold a majority stake in her company Spanx to Blackstone, valuing the brand at $1.2 billion.
In an Instagram video story celebrating with her team, Blakely, who at one point has her young daughter spinning around her,* advises her colleagues not to downplay or dismiss the more female-associated leadership qualities that she attributes to her success.
Blakely reflects: “To stand here today and think about what we’ve been able to create by being authentic and kind and delivering amazing products to women…Using very feminine principles in a very masculine space, leading with intuition and vulnerability. Twenty-one years ago I thought let’s just try this and see what happens.”
(*See another awesome display of women leaders showcasing their dimensionality in public this week.)
Why we need women at work…
What Blakely refers to is actually well-documented. There’s no shortage of benefits when it comes to what women do for workplaces.
· A study by the Center for Creative Leadership found that having a higher percentage of women in the work place predicted more job satisfaction, more organizational dedication, more meaningful work and less burnout.
· Further, people from organizations with a high percentage of women were more likely to cite positive and meaningful organizational culture, including having enjoyable work, a job that fits into their life, and opportunities to make a difference.
· A global consulting group study found that women outperformed men in 11 of 12 key emotional intelligence competencies, suggesting an advantage in “soft skills” critical for effective leadership and business performance. From the study developer:
“If more men acted like women in employing their emotional and social competencies, they would be substantially and distinctly more effective in their work.”
– Richard E. Boyatzis, Ph.D, study developer and Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, Case Western Reserve University
Leadership with a “feminine” flair
So what are these qualities? And why are they so beneficial, especially now? I know these “soft skills” have served me well in my own career. Here are some thoughts (and stories) from my own experience…
· Intuition – Research shows that women, in general, are better than men at reading facial expressions, picking up on subtle emotions, and drawing insights from the seemingly intangible. One of the best career moves I’ve ever made was trusting my intuition over the advice a mentor. I had two opportunities before me: a promotion or a lateral move to invest in my own learning. When I tried to explain why the lateral move just felt right – my mentor thought I was crazy and tried to actively talk me out of it. I left the conversation completely doubting myself. Luckily, I slept on it, woke up and followed my intuition – I took the lateral move. By choosing to invest in me (not chase a title) I learned skills and lessons that have been critical in my career.
· Empathy – I consider empathy to be one of my “super powers,” but it’s not without risk in the business world. Being the one at the table to voice consumer pain points (again), encouraging the team to include more stories! in their presentations, and being emotionally invested in your team can get you labelled as “soft.” It’s taken some practice (and courage), but I’ve embraced my empathic, story-telling skills and tendencies. By connecting with the common humanity in others, I can feel their pain, see opportunities to serve, and be a better leader.
· Authenticity – We get a lot of direct and indirect messages about how we need to “show up” at work. Early in my career, I was coached to tame my unprofessional, curly hair, and complete the look with matching suit, panty hose, and closed-toed heels. It wasn’t me, but I conformed to the “rules.” Over the years, I’ve shed that corporate uniform and show up more authentically ME. I embrace my imperfections – in public and vulnerable ways – in hopes of building trust and modeling for others that it’s okay to be human, too.
A reflection about “gendering” human qualities…
While research shows that women may be more likely to exhibit these skills or qualities, I believe we would all benefit if EVERYRONE brought, what I see as human traits (not just feminine ones), to work.
In her article “How to Own Your Feminine Strengths at Work” in Forbes, Shelley Zalis’ passes along some great advice from two other authors….
“These aren’t necessarily masculine or feminine qualities but human qualities. Men and women shouldn’t hide these human traits at work, but give themselves permission to let them shine and make it the new leadership norm so we can create cultures of care and benevolence.”
– Erica Keswin, author of Bring Your Human To Work
“Instead of suppressing your feminine qualities because society may view them as less valuable, try tapping into those qualities personally and professionally as a source of power. It’s a power that comes from being more connected to your authentic self.”
– Amy Stanton, author of The Feminine Revolution: 21 Ways To Ignite The Power Of Your Femininity For a Brighter Life And A Better World
I couldn’t agree more.
