A common misconception is that exercising feminine energy—being empathetic and collaborative—equates to being a pushover. This is false. Leaders can and should maintain strong, clear boundaries while leading from a place of empathy and creativity.
Feminine energy in a leadership context refers to traits like empathy, intuition, and creativity. These are not exclusive to women; all leaders, regardless of gender, possess and can draw upon both feminine and masculine energies.
Avoid committing to a single leadership style. Instead, view different approaches (e.g., empathetic vs. autocratic) as tools in a toolkit. A skilled leader knows which tool is appropriate for a given situation, even if it's not their default preference.
Contrary to common belief, empathy isn't a fixed personality trait. It's a learnable skill that can be intentionally developed through practices like creative questioning and active listening, making it an accessible and necessary competency for all leaders.
The recent shift toward valuing feminine leadership traits is driven by two key factors. Younger generations entering the workforce demand authenticity as a non-negotiable, while crises like COVID forced companies to rapidly adopt more people-centric approaches.
To adopt a new leadership skill, avoid a dramatic overhaul. Instead, use the "Atomic Habits" approach by making a 1% change. Start with a tiny action in a safe space to slowly and organically build the new behavioral muscle without risking psychological safety.
In tense executive meetings, this simple verbal tool can de-escalate conflict. By starting with two points of agreement ("I like...") before posing a question ("I wonder if..."), you validate the other person, lower defensiveness, and create space for alternative ideas.