Constructing Your Leadership Brand: Gender Differences | Accelerate Success with Lorraine Moore

While I prefer to avoid gender generalizations, as I believe there are as many similarities as differences, I am obliged to share unavoidable obstacles to leadership and personal success.

Women are more commonly reported as shy and reticent in business, thus perceived as lacking confidence and/or experience. In spite of the growth in women holding senior positions in organizations, stubborn behaviors remain that contribute to these perceptions.

In group settings, capable and intelligent women are less likely to ask questions, particularly provocative questions. I also see them participating less frequently in open discussions, particularly when there are more senior leaders present. At boardroom tables and in meeting rooms, too often, women perch almost tentatively with their notepads or iPads occupying little space on the table. When a room is near or over capacity, sometimes women will even sit at a chair along the wall. This is a big mistake, as it acts as an isolator and effectively removes them from the discussion. Sometimes men can fall into the same trap. It inhibits your effectiveness.

Take five minutes following a meeting and ask yourself or a trusted colleague:

Did I sit at the table in a relaxed and open manner, with my arms uncrossed?
Did I occupy space at the table—setting out my notepad, electronics, and so on, in front of me, or did I tightly pile my items in a small space?
Did I actively contribute—with at least three questions or observations for every sixty minutes of meeting?
Did I speak in a way that demonstrated confidence, that is, did I avoid raising my voice at the end of a statement in a way that indicated I was seeking approval or questioning others rather than stating a confident opinion?
Did I ask provocative questions or make challenging statements, or did I hold them inside out of fear of being wrong or offending someone?
When I offered a differing opinion, did I provide data or examples to support my comment?

Analyze how you are being perceived and make any necessary adjustments. You will find that you can demonstrate the capability for courageous leadership, seize opportunities to heighten your visibility, take actions to enhance your personal brand within your firm, and demonstrate executive presence.

My clients accelerate their results – increasing profitability, leadership performance, innovation, and accountability. I would love to discuss how I might help you develop your personal leadership brand. Contact me today.

Originally published in Feet to the Fire: How to Exemplify and Create the Accountability that Creates Great Companies. Get your copy today on Amazon!

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