3 Keys to Leading with Your Strengths in a Male-Dominated Field

Have you ever been told you’re bossy? Aggressive? Too much? What about too emotional? You’re too nice?

Do you struggle to find the balance between being respected and liked at work? Do you struggle to find balance at all?

If you’re like most women, you likely said yes to any (or all) of the above questions. And let’s face it: this double-edged sword of trying to hide our feminine strengths to fit into a masculine work environment is holding women back.

Women are asking for raises and getting promotions at the same rate as men, yet we have a long way to go to close the gender gap. We need a new approach to leadership, one where traditional feminine strengths are recognized and rewarded. Playing by the old rules of leadership is over.

Yet, when we try to adopt a traditionally masculine approach to leadership (i.e. authoritative rather than participative), disconnect with our emotions, and focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths, the gap in female leaders grows wider.

It’s time to own who you are and what you bring to the table.

Identifying and honing your unique strengths will help you clarify your feminine leadership style and embrace who you are, so you can lead more effectively, find greater balance, and continue to advance your career.

Here are 3 Keys to Leading with Your Strengths in a Male-Dominated Field:

1. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

EQ involves paying attention to your own emotions, what triggers you, and how you react to situations. It also involves how you relate to and connect with others on an emotional level, how you display empathy and compassion, and how you support your employees, customers, and community.

Having strong emotional intelligence improves decision-making, helps you navigate difficult people-management scenarios, and allows you to lead with integrity. You can improve your emotional intelligence by:

• Getting to know your feelings and emotions (journaling is a great way to learn more about yourself!)

• Asking coaching questions to understand the perspectives and emotions of others

• Providing direct, compassionate feedback that helps others grow and develop

• Seeking input, feedback, and perspectives to help you grow and develop

• Learning from past mistakes or failures and using that knowledge to move forward

2. Relational Skills

Relational skills include communication, collaboration, and teamwork. It’s about sharing information in a transparent, clear and inspiring way, including different perspectives in projects and initiatives, and fostering an inclusive environment, where diverse individuals can feel heard and valued.

Building these relational skills improves your analytical skills, because you gather data and insights from many perspectives and angles. It also improves creativity and solution development because you don’t rely on only your experience or expertise; rather, you enlist the help of others. You can improve your relational skills by:

• Identifying the skills, strengths, and experiences you need to make decisions and solve complex problems, then inviting those folks to the table

• Sharpening your communication and speaking skills with resources like Toastmasters

• Advocating for (or creating yourself) peer groups, affinity groups, and other forums where managers, employees, and others can learn from each other or hear a new perspective

• Getting to know a leader, employee, or colleague by inviting them to lunch or a coffee chat

• Building relationships across departments or functions, especially when you count on their support or resources

3. Purpose & Meaning

We all want to find purpose and meaning in our work, and managers can improve employee engagement by understanding employees’ strengths and identifying ways to engage, develop, and empower them to bring their best selves to work.

And this doesn’t end there; we also need to develop our own sense of purpose and wellbeing. By improving our own self-awareness, we can influence, inspire, and impact our employees, organizations, and communities. You can find purpose and improve self-awareness by:

• Taking stock of your personal strengths and achievements (make a list!)

• Identifying what you’re good at: what do you naturally do well?

• Understanding what fulfills you: what gets you out of bed in the morning?

• Considering how you can give back: what are causes you’re most passionate about? What does the world need more of?

• Taking steps to help your employees and colleagues determine their own strengths and purpose

• Co-creating ways for your employees to use their strengths and find purpose to achieve your organization’s mission

The Takeaway

Women can advance in leadership by understanding and applying feminine strengths to workplace scenarios. There is no one right way to lead, and by allowing yourself to make peace with who you truly are, you can leverage your natural strengths to empower your employees, accelerate collaborative decision-making, and impact the way your organization sees women leaders.

Instead of hiding the feminine traits that make you a great leader, embrace them. Discover ways that you can share the value of these strengths with others. Leverage these strengths to clarify your leadership style and inspire others to do the same. Leading with your strengths is a simple way to narrow the gender gap and find your feminine voice in a male-dominated field.

Take action now: Grab your journal and write down three actions you can take this week to embrace your feminine leadership style. How will these actions improve your emotional intelligence and relational skills? How will these actions help you align your purpose to your job or career?

What actions will you take this week? Let me know in the comments!