Data collected from interviews with 22 women leaders is used to identify strategies that integrate a sense of balance into their personal and professional lives. Overall, the public sees the benefits of female leadership. Most say that having more women in the highest positions in business and government would improve the quality of life, at least to some extent, for all Americans (69%) and specifically for women (77%) and men (57%). Women are much more likely than men to say that it would be beneficial to have more women in the highest leadership positions.
Two-thirds of women say that having more women leaders would improve men's quality of life, at least slightly, compared to 47% of men. And while majorities in both groups say this would improve the quality of life for all Americans, women are much more likely than men to say that this is the case (78% versus women) they are more likely than men to say that there should be an equal number of men and women in the highest leadership positions. For example, 71% of women say that women in positions of political leadership are more compassionate and empathetic than men, while 50% of men say this is the case. Both groups were made up of professional women, educators and industry leaders, whose mission was to expand the growth of women in their industry and profession from their perspective.
However, many Americans are skeptical that women can overcome obstacles that prevent them from achieving gender parity in business and political leadership. Most women also point out that gender discrimination and the fact that voters are not prepared to elect women are the main barriers for women in politics. The survey also reveals that, to a large extent, Americans consider men and women to be equally capable when it comes to some key qualities and behaviors that are essential for leadership, even though the majority (57%) say that men and women in high positions in business and politics tend to have different leadership styles. On the contrary, approximately one third of men consider each of these reasons to be the main reason why there are no more women in higher positions.
Participants were asked to rank the five people who were in the highest position. The options for people providing support included a spouse, partner, family member, children, a female supervisor, a male supervisor, a mentor within the organization, a mentor outside the organization, a female co-worker, a male co-worker, a friend, a male friend, and others. First, this study expands the literature on leadership education by empirically evaluating how women in leadership positions perceive sources of social support, confusion between work and family, and the WFC in their leadership roles. Six out of ten adults say this helps women progress in politics, and an even larger percentage say it helps women succeed in business.
In turn, men (31%) are more likely than women (23%) to say that women are simply not as interested in occupying senior leadership positions in politics. When asked if certain personal traits or characteristics would help or harm men and women seeking success in business or politics to a greater extent, approximately seven out of ten adults said that being assertive and ambitious would, above all, improve a man's chances in both areas. Among Republicans and Democrats, women are more likely than men to say that there are very few women in positions of political and corporate leadership, and that there are substantial gender differences, particularly among Republicans, in terms of views on the obstacles that prevent women from occupying these positions. For this research, 93 women leaders who were members of a professional association only for women were identified as potential respondents.
Two-thirds of Republican women say that it is easier for men to get the highest positions in business, compared to 45% of Republican men. In order to understand how these women leaders balance their personal and professional lives while still achieving success within their respective fields it is important to look at what strategies they use. Many successful female leaders have found ways to integrate their personal lives into their professional ones by creating flexible work schedules or taking advantage of technology such as video conferencing or remote working options. This allows them to maintain their work-life balance while still being able to attend important meetings or events.
Another strategy used by many female leaders is delegating tasks or responsibilities when possible. This allows them to focus on what they do best while still being able to attend important meetings or events without having to worry about other tasks or responsibilities. Additionally, many successful female leaders have found ways to network with other professionals within their field or industry which can help them stay up-to-date on trends or developments within their field. Finally, many successful female leaders have found ways to prioritize their time so they can focus on what is most important for them both professionally and personally.
This could include setting aside time each day for self-care activities such as exercise or meditation which can help them stay focused on their goals while still being able to take care of themselves. By understanding how successful female leaders balance their personal and professional lives it can help other aspiring female leaders achieve success within their respective fields. By utilizing strategies such as creating flexible work schedules or delegating tasks when possible it can help them maintain a healthy work-life balance while still achieving success within their field.
