Top Competencies of Great Leaders

A fabulous article arrived in my in box this morning from Women's Agenda on the top 16 competencies of great leaders and how women lead the way.

Got me thinking about what the bugger is going on in this country!  Ok, first world problem - yes, it is.

In my role as Chair for Try Australia and Big Brothers Big Sisters Melbourne, our current board is represented by 5 women and 5 men.  It was an all male board when I joined.   I actively sought the right person with the right skill set regardless of gender.  Over the time I have been in the role there have been times we have had more men, more women .....  but always the right people.

Relating to women in board positions, the current statistics are dismal. Only 15.6% of directors on ASX 200 boards are women whilst 23.5% of all ASX 200 companies are yet to appoint a single woman. There are only seven (or 3.5%) female CEOs of ASX 200 companies.

And how many women with a portfolio in the Liberal Party??????

The journalist was once told by a female board recruiter that change is more likely to occur when the Chair has an appetite for risk. Her experience with recommending women for ASX 200 Board positions was that women were still largely considered a risk.  Seriously??????

And yet a study conducted by consultants Zenger and Folkman that was published in Harvard Business Review found that women make better leaders than men, so where is the justification for the perception of risk?

Their research identified 16 competencies that top leaders display and found that women were better than men in 12 of them, equal in three and only slightly behind for one.

The competencies that women outshone men in were:

• Takes initiative
• Practices self-development
• Displays high integrity and honesty
• Drives for results
• Develops others
• Inspires and motivates others
• Builds relationships
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Establishes stretch goals
• Champions change
• Solves problems and analyses issues
• Communicates powerfully and prolifically
    
  My observation of the above is that I believe it to be entirely accurate.  I have over the past 10 years as an image professional and NFP board member observed these competencies in my clients and fellow board members.  What has been missing is the transference of the visual and vocal impact that communicates the existence of these competencies.  A man can easily wear a suit.  A woman has more to consider when presenting herself professionally.  Managing your professional image and brand as an executive is crucial to success if you are seeking a new role, a board position or a promotion.  If you intend to stay doing what you are doing, perhaps it's not an issue!
  
  The competencies where men and women were equal:
  
  
• Connects the group to the outside world
• Innovates
• Technical or professional expertise

The competency in which men were deemed better:

• Develops a strategic perspective

Source: "A Study in Leadership: Women Do It Better Than Men," Zenger Folkman, 2012.

The corporate world is running out of excuses for its poor gender diversity showing. It is time for the flagging ASX companies to appoint women to help resurrect their fortunes. Aside from anything else they owe it to their shareholders.

So, together with my colleague Sandra Baigel from Voice and Word, we are developing a program for women to address vocal impact and personal branding for emerging professional leaders.  Our 5 hour workshop is designed to assist those who have been in a middle management role for 2-5 years and are ready for the next level.

If this sounds like someone you know, please share the information.  It's time for our emerging professional leaders to gain some more skills around how they are perceived out there!  Express your interest here:  helen@imagequest.com.au

In the meantime, I'm interested in your thoughts .....