When we talk about the characteristics of great leaders, our clients often ask if these qualities apply to both male and female leaders. Our answer is, “Of course they do.” The better question to ask is, “How can leaders tap into both their feminine and masculine sides to reach their highest potential?”

Masculine and Feminine Energy

We all have a combination of masculine and feminine energy within us. It is not defined by gender.  A woman can have strong masculine energy and a man can be more grounded in feminine energy. Typically, one of these energies is stronger than the other. Both characteristics are essential, and one is not more important than the other.

  • Masculine energy is characterized by doing and achieving and is molded by logic and reason.
  • Feminine energy is more intuitive, oriented towards receiving and allowing, and characterized by being.

Society tends to overvalue stereotypically masculine traits, such as individualism, competition, and hierarchy. This often comes at the expense of feminine traits: interdependence, intuition, collaboration, generativity, and vulnerability.  In fact, researchers have identified the hyper-masculine culture of Wall Street that promotes extreme risk-taking as one of the root causes of the recent U.S. financial crisis.

Although the number of women in leadership positions has risen over the years, only 6% of S&P 500 CEOs are women, according to a report by Catalyst.  Conventional wisdom maintains that for women to succeed as leaders, they must display the traits commonly associated with masculine leadership. Yet, if a woman behaves assertively and acts decisively, she is labeled as bossy and is punished for deviating from the social script that prescribes how women “should” act.

It’s easy to become overly dialed into masculine energy in the workplace because those are the traits many of us have been taught to believe are important for success. However, spending too much time in our masculine energy can create an imbalance that can leave us overwhelmed, drained, and might eventually lead to symptoms of burnout. Meanwhile, drawing on feminine energy gives us the opportunity to reflect, trust, and replenish our reserves so we can continue to show up as our best selves.

Research by Anne Grethe Solberg of Norwegian School of Management finds that the most effective managers exhibit a mix of feminine and masculine leadership styles that can be dialed up or down depending on their audiences and the set of circumstances they face.

Today’s dynamic world of work calls for leaders who are authentic, compassionate, vulnerable, and genuinely care for the people they lead. This not only improves the bottom line but also contributes to greater engagement, creativity, and innovation.

Balancing masculine and feminine energy is a continuous, fluid process. Keep tuning in to the advantages and drawbacks of your dominant energy and when it is to your advantage to incorporate some of the complementary gender energy. Above all, when you find yourself unbalanced, trust your intuition and practice self-compassion.

To learn more about the Propel Consulting Group, contact us now.

References

Menzies, F. (2018). Gender Bias at Work: The Assertiveness Double-Bind. Culture Plus Consulting. Retrieved from https://cultureplusconsulting.com/2018/03/10/gender-bias-work-assertiveness-double-bind/

Napper, T. (2022). How to Cultivate Realistic Balance in Business. Quench Co. Retrieved from https://www.quench-collective.com/blog/how-to-cultivate-realistic-balance-in-business

Schmidt, K. (5 Mar. 2020). How Star Wars Made Me Rethink Leadership. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/03/05/how-star-wars-made-me-rethink-masculine-and-feminine-leadership/?sh=32da98f7cab0