Seven out of ten staff employed at Quality Health Care are women. Three of the four Senior Managers are women, and fifteen of the eighteen middle management roles are held by women. It is fair to say that we recognise the leadership skills that women bring to QHC and we have benefited directly from the different leadership style that women bring to the workplace.
We are certainly not saying that all women possess the same traits and skills but we have noticed some similarities in the qualities that QHC’s women leaders have. Please find six qualities listed below that successful women leaders typically possess at QHC.
1. A Strong Vision and Sense of Purpose
Female leaders are not afraid to dream big - and always have their eye on the wider vision. They understand their leadership purpose or their ‘why’ - which is not what they do but how and why they do it. Female leaders communicate their purpose and their vision to their teams regularly and inspire their colleagues to invest themselves, ensuring that the company’s vision trickles down into everyday tasks - creating an overall, united sense of purpose and drive. In many ways, they are idealists, with a belief in making an impact and changing the world. Their passion is contagious. People want to be a part of it.
2. Emotionally intelligent
Female leaders are self-aware; but are also highly tapped into their team’s emotions. They know their strengths and are able to adapt their style and approach to connect with those around them. They have the ability to understand and manage their own emotions, and those of their team. People with a high degree of emotional intelligence know what they're feeling, what their emotions mean, and how these emotions can affect other people. Our leaders tend to be self-aware, motivated, have empathy for others and have good social skills.
3. A willingness to Nurture
Leadership is not just about personal success; it is about empowering and nurturing the growth and success of others. Nurturing leadership is a transformative approach that focuses on cultivating the potential and achievements of individuals within an organization. By providing guidance, support, and opportunities for development, nurturing leaders create an environment where individuals can thrive, contribute their best, and reach their full potential.
4. Extraordinarily Resilient
Resilience is the human capacity to meet adversity, setbacks and trauma, and then recover from them in order to live life fully. Resilient leaders have the ability to sustain their energy level under pressure, to cope with disruptive changes and adapt. They bounce back from setbacks.They also overcome major difficulties without engaging in dysfunctional behavior or harming others. Resilience is a crucial characteristic of high- performing leaders. Leaders must cultivate it in themselves in order to advance and thrive.They also carry the responsibility for helping to protect the energy of the people in their teams.
5. Building and leading teams
Building a high-performing team involves more than just assembling a group of talented individuals. For a team to be effective, its members must unite behind an inspiring vision and be motivated to bring that vision to life. They must share clear, measurable goals, and be committed to playing their part in the overall success of the group.
6. Not afraid to ask for help
Of course, broad generalizations are to be viewed sceptically, but women leaders often feel less inhibited about reaching out for input and guidance when necessary. They understand the limitations of trying to do everything themselves and see great value in empowering others to assume greater responsibilities. They are also unafraid to seek the insights and feedback of other business leaders.
With this in mind, there is nothing stopping you from becoming the powerful leader you were born to be - and we’d love to support you on your journey. There’s a powerful female leader inside you just waiting to come out!