female leadership essay topics

627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for leadership essay topics to write about? Being both an exciting research area and a practical skill, leadership is definitely worth exploring!

🔝 Top 10 Essay Topics

📃 Leadership Essay: How to Write

🏆 Best Essay Examples
👍 Interesting Essay Topics
🎓 Simple & Easy Essay Titles
📌 Controversial Title Ideas
🥇 Good Topics to Write

✍️ Leadership Essay Topics for College

❓ leadership essay questions.

In your leadership essay, you might want to take a look at the sphere of government or elaborate on the role of leadership in business organizations. Here we’ve gathered most catchy leadership title ideas together with leadership essay examples. There are also useful tips on writing your introduction, conclusion, and formulating a thesis statement.

🔝 Top 10 Leadership Essay Topics

Leadership as a research area and a practical skill
Theories of leadership
Functional leadership theory
Autocratic and democratic leadership styles: compare and contrast
Task-oriented leadership style: the key features
Measuring leadership: the main approaches
Gender and leadership in Western countries
The concept of leadership: myths and misunderstandings
Emotional intelligence and leadership: the connection
Leadership in non-human animals

While writing a leadership essay, you may struggle with the subject, structure, titles, and other components. Don’t worry – these tips will help you to write the best leadership paper!

Tip 1. Choose your subject area first. If your professor did not provide specific topics, you would need to select one on your own. In order to do this, you may focus on an area of leadership that sounds interesting to you.

For example, if you consider working in the hospitality sector in the future, write about leadership in hotels or restaurants. Alternatively, you can browse leadership essay topics online and see if that gives you any clarity.

Tip 2. Narrow down the topic. To ensure that your essay earns high marks, you should avoid choosing an area of leadership that is too broad.

A college level paper should offer enough details and depth to receive an excellent grade. For instance, instead of overviewing a bunch of leadership styles, focus on how certain styles impede or facilitate teamwork. This will give you enough to talk about while limiting the scope of your essay.

Tip 3. Don’t confuse leadership with management! This is a common mistake that students make while writing leadership essays. Although the two concepts overlap, leadership is more about beliefs and vision, whereas managerial work is focused on specific tools and techniques.

Thus, a leader may or may not be a manager. To get more familiar with the subject of leadership, research various leadership styles, such as transformational, autocratic, and servant leadership.

Tip 4. Pay attention to the structure. In a great essay, ideas are always well-organized and follow one another in a logical sequence. First, write an introduction where you present your topic and thesis.

Then, write the main body, where you explain the key concepts and the relationships between them by reviewing relevant research evidence.

Lastly, write a conclusion summarizing your key points. A good leadership essay conclusion should also show how the information can be applied in practice.

Tip 5. Seek to answer any questions that readers might have. For your essay to show excellent depth, you need to address the points that might be interesting to readers in connection with your subject area.

For example, if you are reviewing a particular leadership style, you might want to discuss in which settings it would be useful and what are some of its limitations.

To make this part easier, you could search for leadership essay questions online to clarify what kind of answers readers expect you to cover.

Tip 6. Explain the importance and relevance of your paper. Because leadership is focused on effective strategies that can be applied in real life, you need to provide examples of how your essay may be used to support future practice and research.

Can leaders use the information you provided to improve their relationships with other employees? Can the proposed strategies influence performance?

Think about the potential uses of your research, as well as any gaps that are yet to be studied. Highlighting areas for future research will show your tutor that you are genuinely interested in the subject while also helping you plan for future essays.

We hope that these leadership essay tips will make it easier for you to write an outstanding paper! Make sure to check our website for sample essays on leadership!

🏆 Best Leadership Essay Examples

Nelson Mandela Leadership Style Mandela’s fight for democracy and fulfilment of the majority will was also seen in his efforts to reconcile Libya with the rest of the world.
Reed Hastings’ Leadership Style: Netflix CEO’s Strategy Since the work of a leader is crucial for the performance of the whole enterprise, it is essential to analyze the leadership style of a particular business leader through the perspective of his or her […]
Transformational Leadership Essay This requires the transformational leader to have the right communication skills to be able to relay the vision they have to a point of winning the willingness of the followers such that they too are […]
Google Democratic Leadership Style – Compared to Amazon Applying behavioural leadership style theories in Bezos and Schmidt’s case reveals that the Amazon CEO is an autocratic leader while the Google CEO is a democratic leader.
Frederick Douglass Leadership Personality Traits Report (Assessment) The book was so humorous that he feared that he would be enslaved again for the weaknesses that he portrayed in the American lifestyle and how he was able to trick them with the attire […]
Leadership Case Study This is mainly achieved through setting a pace in serving as a role model and creation of a working environment that allows members of the organization or employees to feel honored as part of the […]
Mahatma Gandhi’s Leadership This report is an analysis of the behaviour and leadership style of Ghandi, the transactional and transformative aspects of his leadership and the way he used the power he had to help India gain Independence.
Teamwork and Leadership From diversity to team hierarchy, many factors influence the eventual output of the team, affecting the leader, team members’ performance, and client’s satisfaction.
Esther’s Leadership Qualities Essay The book of Ester narrates the story of a young Jewish woman who rose to the thrones of power but also reveals the life of the Jews under the Persian reign.
Mercedes Company: Leadership and Management Essentials The idea behind theoretical investigation is to obtain enough background information on leadership styles, which might be applied to analysing the performance of Mercedes Benz in the light of the theory’s implications on the practice […]
Nigerian Poor Governance and Leadership In the paper under consideration, we will examine the concepts of the good governance and leadership, the problems concerning the implementation of these concepts in the Nigerian government; then we will investigate the history of […]
Barack Obama’s Charismatic Leadership In Obama’s Case, the sparkle and invisible energy as defined by Rao pushed him to the presidency and continues allowing him some loyal following albeit the fact that some are being disappointed by the slow […]
Foundation of Army Leadership Essay The Army leaders therefore, need to be swift, adaptive, and multi-skilled both in the country and across the world. This ensures obedience of the Army to the authority of the President and his authority from […]
Leadership in Organization Leadership is applicable in the nurturing and development of constructive behavior patterns and organizational culture. Charismatic leadership is appropriate for the development of followers.
Meg Whitman – Leadership Style: What Do People Do When They Are Leading? This is due to the fact that it influences the extent to which employees are committed to attainment of the set organizational goals.
Leadership: Portfolio Project I will start by conducting a comprehensive analysis of my background in order to understand the factors that might have defined my leadership qualities in one way or the other.
Comparison of Leadership and Management In leadership, the leader uses his charisma and influence to elicit the help and support of the followers to achieve goals.
Bernard Arnault’s Leadership One of Arnault’s leadership styles entails identifying brands that are preferred in the market and working on enhancing the quality of these brands. Bernard Arnault is a visionary leader who has helped LVMH to attain […]
Bill Gates’s Leadership and Impact on Organization This problem grew out of the practice that was common in Microsoft to challenge the ideas of one another, doubt them, and put them to the test.
Starbuck Company Case: Howard Schultz Leadership Style Hence, he spends a lot of time with staff and guarantees that the company helps employees to grow both financially and intellectually.
Google Company’s Situational Leadership The current CEO of Google, Larry Page, is a considered a great leader because of his ability to apply situational leadership skills in resolving some of the problems that threaten the success of the company.
Nelson Mandela’s Leadership in the “Invictus” Film The film “Invictus” is a 2009 drama and biography that depicts the challenging initiative of Nelson Mandela to unite the country with the help of sport.
Developing Leadership Skills Bearing in mind the fact that the leader is tasked with marshaling the organization’s resources to accomplish some organizational goal, it can be rightfully stated that part of the role of the leader is to […]
Management and Leadership: Nokia Corporation The approach of the company is to have an innovative and outstanding teamwork; though the company has a departmental approach, the company ensures that it has teams in all sections that are mandated and empowered […]
Comparison of Gandhi’s and Hitler’s Leadership The primary direction of Gandhi’s political and social work was the fight against the nationalist movement of the British rule of India.
Foundations of Army Leadership BLC This paper examines the foundation of Army leadership, focusing on its levels and leaders’ characteristic features.
Leadership Self-Assessment Essay To a butcher, the organizational goals of increased productivity, the input of both the individual and groups in the organization remains invaluable. To this end, the strengths and weaknesses that are inherent in my style […]
School Leadership The multi-levelled pedagogic school leaders highly determine the mode of teaching students in schools and the effective application of the learning process.
Ken Lay’s Leadership and Enron Company’s Downfall An analysis of Lay’s ethical conduct outlined below is conducted through the prism of Kidder’s ethical checkpoints, the principles of moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation, moral character, as well as the CEO’s power and […]
Toyota’s Culture and Leadership Strategy Toyota’s Leadership and Culture Irrespective of numerous difficulties, the company is still one of the leaders of the industry. To understand the essence of the lean leadership, it is crucial to consider some peculiarities of […]
Leadership in General Electric The third impact of good leadership at GE is that the ability of the organization to retain its employees would be increased.
Democratic Leadership Style Self-Analysis Democratic leadership style is a participative and consensus-based approach to decision-making in which the leader encourages input from all members of the team and makes decisions that reflect the group’s best interests.
Ethical Leadership: Martin Luther King All individuals were expected to consider his actions and embrace the idea of morality. Through the use of a positive community culture and empowerment tactics, King managed to model such desirable behaviors.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Leadership Style Shareholders have complained about his leadership and failure to increase the stock price of Facebook, and others have claimed he is socially inept and too young and immature to be a CEO of a multi-billion […]
Autocratic Leadership Versus Participative Theory It will also critically analyse the effectiveness of both participative and autocratic leadership styles in an organisation to determine the most appropriate style to be adopted for the success of an organisation.
King T’Challa’s Leadership in “Black Panther” However, because Black Panther needed the help of the Jabari, he had to suppress some feelings of pride and act in the interest of his people.
Leadership Style: Reflection and Analysis The concept of leadership is an essential part of the modern world due to the fact that it is one of the key determinants of successful management.
Mary Kay Ash and Her Leadership Style The success of this woman, as well as her contributions to the world of business, may be explained in terms of her biography, milestones, she had to cope with, and the decisions she made during […]
Marriott International Leadership This paper aims to present the analysis of the prevalent leadership style typical of executives and directors in Marriott International; to discuss the connection between the leadership style and ethical practices; to determine possible ethical […]
Leadership and Management Practice The efficacy of a decision to either lead or manage will base on the closeness of how the insight of the knowledge, expertise and talent of persons trying to pursue the goal matches with the […]

👍 Interesting Leadership Essay Topics

Participative Leadership: Strengths and Weakness The paper gives an overview of the approach, followed by the strengths and weakness of participative leadership. Organizational leadership, more so the approach of leadership is critical to the performance of an organization.
Leadership and Motivation – Carlos Ghosn The purpose of this paper is to present a discussion of theories and concepts of leadership in current multinational businesses using the leadership style of Carlos Ghosn as a benchmark for effective leadership in the […]
Development and Curriculum Leadership: Advanced Curriculum Models This book is of great assistance to educational leaders who want to explain curriculum concepts, analyze and understand the hidden curriculum, explain the contracting nature of curriculum elements and unfold strategies to develop and implement […]
The Essence of Leadership: Warren Buffet and Oprah Winfrey To understand the concept of leadership, the report evaluates the leadership qualities that the two leaders have developed. The reason behind the conflicts rests on the fact that the organisation, for instance, has no one […]
Strategic Leadership Nevertheless, it is important that for these strategic plans to be implemented properly there is need to have strategic leadership in the organization in order to provide the much needed leadership.
Leadership Approach in “The Devil Wears Prada” The first point is personal characteristics that can be considered on the example of the film. Thus, whether it is the latest edition of a Harry Potter book that she manages to find or her […]
Howard Schultz’s Leadership Style: Strengths and Weaknesses These results are in a large part due to his leadership style which can be characterised as transformational, the strengths of which are openness to new ideas and creativity, and among the weaknesses can be […]
The Leadership of Mao Zedong For example, the Great Leap Forward policy resulted in a food crisis that led to the death of many Chinese people. Mao was assertive in the development and implementation of his policies.
Leadership of Change in an Organization The change process involves developing urgency of change, empowering change groups, developing a vision, frequent and powerful communication of the vision, eliminating change obstacles, creating short-term goals, building on change and incorporating change in the […]
BMW Key Strategic Issues Analysis The strong brand name and capital potential of the company is the core elements of the company’s success and popularity across the globe.
Educational Leadership and Management Team leadership is “the ability to solve every problem affecting a given group”. I have understood why every educational leader should use the best leadership styles.
Personal Leadership Profile Analysis At the same time, I could also use my drive for learning to develop communication, motivation, conflict resolution, and other relevant skills that could enhance the performance of my team and the work environment in […]
Conrad Hilton Leadership Styles and Principles Leaders in this category want to transcend the basic needs of a human being and to have a sense of life success.
Servant Leadership Research Paper | Term Paper In the context of organizations, leading entails the leader consolidating the efforts and resources of the organization and focusing on the future by setting up a vision for the organization which it intends to achieve […]
Nursing: Leadership Development Plan I utilize the nursing process and evidence-based practice to work collaboratively with the core team, including the patient, staff members, primary care provider, registered nurse care manager, and patient support technician, and expanded team, including […]
21st Century Leadership Based on the character of these issues, researchers distinguish six major areas of the new leadership, and each one of them includes a set of practices which are considered to be contributive to the organisational […]
Style of Leadership in TESCO In order to maintain the desired level of performance, the company requires a well trained and knowledgeable workforce as well as an appropriate team of leadership that is capable of developing the qualities of all […]
Organizational Leadership and Strategic Positioning for Shangri-la Hotels Shangri-La Hotels is classified among the strongest and iconic leaders in the luxury hotel space in Asia and it has been successful in other places in Europe and around the world.
Situational Leadership Style According to the two experts, the major responsibility of any situational leader is to become accustomed to their individual leadership style and satisfy the followers’ needs.
Gibb’s Reflective Cycle in Nursing Leadership To ensure all the processes run effectively in the organization, the leader must reflect on the various encounters to improve the aspect of decision-making and management.
Organizational Culture & Leadership: Whirlpool Corporation At the heart of the discussion of management and leadership are the concepts of goal setting and results. Common to both managers and leaders is the focus on the results they produce, which are based […]
Ann Fudge’s Leadership Lessons The reason is in the fact that Fudge is a broad-minded leader who is interested in receiving new experiences. Fudge demonstrates a medium level of extraversion as she is a good motivator and a decisive […]
The Action-Observation Model: Leadership Discussion In the beginning, I tried to persuade some volunteers to agree with their assignments since they were helping to spread awareness of a good cause; however, as arguments started occurring, I decided that the best […]
Leadership Evaluation: Sir Richard Branson By the early 1990s, the airline had become the centerpiece of Branson’s interests and the capital needs of the airline made it necessary for him to acquire more capital.
Unilever Company’s Leadership and Corporate Governance The success of Unilever associated with the company’s commitment to leadership. First, the strategic leadership of Unilever is tied to the company’s long-term goals and objectives.
Leadership Concepts: Kentucky Fried Chicke This means that if the recipe was revealed to a leader who is not loyal to this organization, he/she would share it with the competitors which could cause the organization to loose many of its […]
Carly Fiorina’s Leadership at Hewlett-Packard Company In this respect, the first part of the paper will compare the traits of Carly to the characteristics described in various leadership theories.
Leadership Styles: Democratic, Autocratic and Laissez-Faire According to McNichol and Hamer, the participative approach, compared to the other styles, enhances the productivity of employees for a prolonged period of time as it encourages cooperation and increases staff morale. As a democratic […]
Leadership in the hospitality industry His success in business has been attributed to the manner in which he attends to details such as research and collection of information, provision of clean and high quality products and services, and the logical […]
Maxine Clark’s Leadership at Build-A-Bear Workshop How might her personality influence her behaviour as the CEO of Build-A-Bear? Maxine Clark is the founder and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Inside Bill Gates Leadership Journey of Building Microsoft Microsoft has succeeded in setting a fast pace in the computer software industry and in creating markets in the process. The program took over the market, and it topped the charts in Microsoft products.
Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore’s Leadership Hal Moore’s courage to fight on despite the odds that had afflicted his men was the major driving factor that led to the victory of his group over the Vietnamese.
Walt Disney and Henry Ford Leadership Styles Disney devoted his time to art and had a dream of becoming a leader in the animation business. The employees started to fear him and could avoid the lobby whenever Disney was passing.
High Task & High Relationship Leadership Style Discussion of high task-high relationship leadership style The leadership underpinned by high-task-high relationship concerns with the inclusion of both tasks and relationships.
Napoleon: Leadership Style The extremely high level of fragmentation peculiar to Europe at that era and the absence of the single perspective on France and its growing power provided him with the time needed to create a powerful […]
The Five-Star Hotels Operational Management They will be discussed on the historic hotel to provide useful information for the improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations of the hotel.
Servant Leadership in Indian Culture and Hindu Religion The basis of this approach is the reorientation of the values of the leader, who considers the empowerment of followers as a means and goal of his activity.
Leadership Style of Bill Clinton: What Can We Learn? To have a good understanding of Bill Clinton, we shall have a review and a brief description of his biography in order to understand about the background of Bill Clinton right from the time he […]
Relationship between Leadership and Management Additionally, it is apparent that the only constant in the business world is change, and for this reason, for employees to be sure of coping with such changes, there is need for them to acquire […]
Leadership Philosophy and the Theories of Leadership These theories are the trait theory of leadership, behavioral theory of leadership, and the contingency theory of leadership. In line with the chosen personal leadership philosophy that urges the leader to show empathy, the trait […]

🎓 Simple & Easy Leadership Essay Titles

Individual Leadership Philosophy I have also developed new values that will continue to support my leadership objectives. I will also acquire new skills that have the potential to improve my leadership philosophy.
Leadership in the Management Practice: “Our Iceberg Is Melting” by John Kotter The resultant effect is that the taskforce charged with the responsibility of implementing change does not achieve the intended objective According to Kotter, developing a clear vision is critical in the process of implementing change.
Proactive Leadership: Importance and Characteristics This paper will focus on proactive leadership, the importance of proactive leadership, and the characteristics of proactive leaders. For example, when a team leader is late on product shipment or delivery of products, they try […]
Warren Buffett’s Leadership in Berkshire Hathaway The analysis is conducted within the appropriate business context after the examination of the history, structure, and organizational culture of Berkshire Hathaway.
Gender Equality in Higher Education: The Underrepresentation of Women in Educational Leadership A prime example of gender inequality is the underrepresentation of women in educational leadership, and this problem is going to be considered here in detail.
The Challenges of Leadership Practice in the 21st Century The existing transformational theories to leadership practice are inadequate for the development of a harmonious business environment in the twenty-first century.
A Revolutionary Model of Leadership When the father of Ricardo Semler left his company in the early 80s, he never imagined that his son would transform Semco to be a leading and one of the best-known companies across the globe.
JC Penney & Ron Johnson: The Failed Leadership Following the failure of Ron Johnson’s vision and strategy, the new CEO, Ulman, faced the challenge of attempting to incorporate and revert to the strategy that had been in place before Ron Johnson’s tenure.
Nursing Leadership: A Self-Assessment The second goal is to improve my risk management attitude because it is crucial for my practice as a DNP-prepared nurse and as a leader of the team where I work.
The Model of Primary Leadership Skills Theo was more successful in the role of manager of the new facility’s development than he was as the operations director because he needed to lead various groups of people that would help him to […]
W. Buffett’s and F. Porsche’s Leadership Styles Finally, the third reason to call Ferdinand Porsche a bad leader is his ignorance of the social context. The businessman did not contribute to the development of the community or country but focused on his […]
Hatshepsut’s Leadership and Accomplishments She was the leader of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt and ruled with the help of the two-year old Thutmose III.
The Book “The Power of Positive Leadership” by Jon Gordon The positive psychology paradigm connects to organizational behavior and the leadership position. The book’s goal is to provide a framework for leadership and explain some instances of effective leadership.
Strategic Leadership and Organisational Transformation of Walmart In the first quarter of the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the company recorded a financial performance that exceeded the projections of analysts who had predicted poor performance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leadership and Organizational Psychology of Vince Lombardi The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator is one of the most renowned personality tests an individual can use to assess one’s leadership journey.
Leadership Style and Employee Motivation: Burj Al Arab Hotel How effective and sustainable is the current leadership approach within the Burj Al Arab in the management of the level of employee motivation? How effective is the function of the current leadership styles in improving […]
Leadership Behavior: Ratan Tata and Emotional Intelligence This shows that Ratan Tata, as a leader, was not eager to compete but rather searched for options to expand the market through acquiring businesses.
General Leadership Style: Norman Schwarzkopf According to the Katz model of leadership, the leader with human skills can leverage the power of the group. When the young Schwarzkopf visited his father in different parts of the world, he had the […]
Mandela’s Leadership He used his power to better the lives of the public in South Africa and set an example of selfless leadership.
Transformational Leadership in Nursing The most significant benefit to the work environment would be access to more information for me as both a teacher and a supervisor, which would allow me to leverage it in nursing care.
Leadership Internal and External Challenges For example, one of the most difficult challenges for a leader is to find a balance between a “stick” and a “carrot”.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s and Malcolm X’s Leadership Styles Thesis: Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were both charismatic leaders, but the latter was more of a transformational leader as well because of his idealistic views and his ability to inspire his followers to […]
Ursula Burns Leadership Style in Xerox Company By suggesting that color printing should be made more affordable, as well as reconsidering the company’s organizational behavior and putting a very strong emphasis on the relationships between the managers and the staff, Burns has […]
Leadership Styles in Nigeria, America and China It is important to note that most of the African nations are said to have a high power distance, and Nigeria is not an exception.
Charismatic Leadership The transformational leaders focus on changing the organizations or the leaders, while the charismatic leader has a focus on commitment and devotion both to the persona values as well as those of the group members […]
Angela Merkel’s Leadership Style This move shows that Merkel has the essential qualities of a transformative leader, including her ability to critically analyze a situation and motivate her followers in times of need.
Nursing Leadership and Team Building Strategies A Doctor of Nursing Practice leader has a number of responsibilities, and one of them is to motivate a team and increase engagement toward a vision and goals.
Delta Airlines Company’s Traditional and Digital Leadership The aviation industry is one of the most performing sectors of the economy, generating considerable revenues to the respective airline companies across the globe.
Transformational Leadership among Nursing Students The members choose me as the nursing student among the ten to be their leader. The leader creates a vision for the team and encourages them to make the dream a reality.
Leadership of Jerry Yang, Co-Founder of Yahoo The creation of Yahoo is the story of the hobby and knowledge of two Yang people who wanted to make the Internet more convenient.
Sundar Pichai’s Leadership and Action Logics As a result, the issue of action logics presented in this paper is vital because it paves the way for leaders to develop practical ways of understanding not only their individual codes of conduct but […]
Personality and Leadership Style Relationship According to his approach and tests, stable and introverted people are phlegmatic, stable and extroverted are sanguine, unstable and introverted are melancholic, and unstable and extroverted are choleric.
Stephen Hawking: Visionary and Cross-Cultural Leadership By incorporating the elements of visionary and cross-cultural leadership, he manages to succeed as not only the man that makes science evolve and become understandable to those interested in it but also the leader of […]
“Spiritual Leadership” by Henry and Richard Blackaby The lack of leadership strategies causes the death of the church1.”Chapter Two: The Leader’s Role: What Leaders Do” The chapter starts with the evaluation of various definitions of leadership.
Mohandus Gandhi’s leadership He modeled what he expected his followers to act on and practiced ethical leadership, as his core motivation was to benefit his fellow countrymen and women rather than himself, thus he was ready to face […]
Astro Airlines: Burton’s Leadership Style While the company had every chance to be transformed from a small-scale business into a large corporation, Burton did not use the opportunities that he had as the head of the company.
Brian Chesky’s Leadership at Airbnb As the chief executive officer and co-founder of Airbnb Company, Brian Chesky has proved to the world that he is a great leader who exhibits wonderful traits.
Does Gender Affect Leadership? The number of women who are reaching top positions in the management of an organization is very less, though nowadays there is some change in this fact and so many women are holding top leadership […]
Healthcare Leadership and Economic Models This is further amplified by Priore who argues that the personnel who encourage their peers to question and identify the possible sections that could use research, development, and acceptance and implementation of changes to implement […]
Apple Inc.’s Leadership Effectiveness, Competitive Advantage, and Growth Strategy Apple Inc.’s current success can be attributed to the organization’s effective management and leadership abilities to quickly adapt to a highly dynamic business environment.

🥇 Good Leadership Topics to Write

Nursing Leadership Skills Development
Women in Top Leadership Positions
Mark Cuban’s Leadership Style in a Basketball Team
Leadership vs. Management in the Nursing Context
Mohammed Al Abbar: Leadership Project
Leadership Input to the Community Development
The Impact of School Governance on School Leadership
“The Ethics of Leadership” by Ciulla Joanne
Definition of Strategic Leadership
Leadership in “12 Angry Men”
Team Leadership: Essential Features & Problems
John Terrill’s Leadership Style at DGL International
Orpheus Orchestra’s Leadership and Organizational Practices
Reflective Practice in Leadership
Mark Zuckerberg: Leadership Style on Practice
Jim Jones Leadership Traits
Leadership and Constitution
Team Dysfunction and Leadership
Gender Differences in Leadership Styles
Warren Buffet’s vs. Bernard Madoff’s Leadership Styles
Reflection on an Interview on Leadership
Leadership Challenges in the Church
Pixar Company’s Effective Leadership and Competitive Advantages
Leadership Role-Play Activity for Students
James D. Sinegal’s Leadership Analysis
Ethics Code in School Leadership
Leadership at The New York Times Newspaper
Leadership Action Plan
Level 5 Leadership, Humility, and Will
Martin Luther King and Winston Churchill’s Leadership Styles
Leadership Impact on Healthcare Delivery
Leadership Theories in the Automotive Industry
Chicago Bulls 1995-96 Championship: Team Leadership
The Impact of Leadership in Higher Education
Ineffective Leadership in a Workplace
Leadership and Influence
Leadership in the United Arab Emirates
Leadership, Its Requirements, Roles and Objectives
Leadership Styles and Theories
Management and Leadership in Case of General Motors Company
Organizational Behavior and Theory
Workplace Management Styles: Autocratic Leadership
Delta Airlines: Corporate Governance and Leadership Issues
The Concept of Laissez-Faire Leadership Style
Self-Awareness Importance in Effective Leadership
Andy Garafallo’s Recipe in Leadership Theory and Practice
Leadership Concepts in the “Seabiscuit” Drama Film
Transformational Leadership in Hotel Industry
Leadership Style of Richard Branson
Daimler-Chrysler Merger: Leadership Issue
Impact of Gender Difference on Leadership Styles
Leadership Skills of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s
Blanchard and Fiedler Leadership Models
Transcendental Leadership and Total Quality Management Theories
“Organizational Culture and Leadership” by Schein, Edgar H.
Leadership, Trustworthiness, and Ethical Stewardship
Nelson Mandela: Speeches and Leadership
Zappos Organization’s Leadership and Objectives
Leadership Philosophies and Core Values in Healthcare
Leadership at YouTube: Susan Wojcicki
Leadership and Diversity Discussion
Biblical Leadership, “Becoming a Different Kind of Leader”
Carlos Slim: Leadership Styles and Personality
Leadership Personality & Achievement: TELMEX and Carlos Slim
Cognitive Skills and Leadership Performance: The Nine Critical Skills
Studying Leadership Behaviour: “The King’s Speech” by Tom Hooper
Leadership in Teams: Experience and Reflection
Personal Leadership Approach
Leadership: Definition and Features
J.F. Kennedy’s People-Oriented Leadership
Political Frame for Educational Leadership Issues
Ontology and Epistemology in Leadership Research
Effective Leadership Today
Effective Leadership: Character and Personal Growth
Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership
Leadership: Top Talent Retention
Women’s Features in Administrative Leadership
Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization?
Steve Jobs and Tim Cook Leadership Styles Comparison
The Ship Board: Management Styles and Leadership
Ann Fudge Leadership Style Analysis
Khalaf Al Habtoor’s Leadership Style
Leadership Style: Ellen Kullman
The Role of Leadership in Business and Its Advantages
Aspects of Leadership Styles
Transformational, Self-Leadership, Kyosei and Customer Relationship Leadership Styles
Strategic Thinking and Leadership
Charismatic vs. Inspirational Leadership
Dr. Maya Angelou and Her Leadership Abilities
Insomniac Games Inc.: Development of Leadership Strategy
Critical Examination of Strategic Leadership
Leadership and Its Approaches: Strengths and Weaknesses
The Behavioral Approach of Studying Leadership
Traits Theory in Leadership
Leadership Styles: Nelson Mandela and Margaret Thatcher
Organizational Leadership Socrates
Business Ethics in Multinational Corporations
Attitude Reflects Leadership: a Look at Leadership in your Professional Portfolio
“The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” by John Maxwell
Scholarship, Practice and Leadership
Costco Company’s Business Diversity, Ethics, Leadership
Leadership Through Effective Communication
Pros and Cons of the Four Major Styles of Leadership
Chapter 6 of Northouse’s Leadership: Theory and Practice
Servant Leadership at St. Jude Children’s Hospital
A Leadership Development Plan’s Analysis
The Role of Inclusive Leadership Strategy in Diverse Workplaces
Transparency: The Role in Leadership
International Leadership: Management Strategies
Leadership in the “Saving Private Ryan” Film
Constructive Criticism in Leadership
The Role of Storytelling in Leadership
Leadership Qualities in Nursing
The Free-Rein Leadership Style
The Volkswagen Group: Global Leadership and Management
BM and Leadership: Delegation
Leadership Skills and Leadership Development Plan
Criminal Justice Leadership: Strategies and Practice
Gates and Buffett: Global Leadership and Management
Inter-Organizational Networks and Leadership
The Leadership of Lubna Al Qasimi
Barack Obama’s Leadership Skills
Impact of Leadership Style on Employee Empowerment
Sergey Brin: Leadership Process and Organizations in Context
Consolidated Products Managers’ Leadership Styles
Influence of Leadership Style on Employees Performance
Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing
Leadership of Climber Arlene Blum
Leadership Values and Authenticity
Comprehensive Leadership Approach
Leadership Styles: Abraham Lincoln and Adolf Hitler
Emergency Department: Leadership Strategy
Tesla’s Strategic Plan for Leadership in Energy Sector
Leadership Styles in the Middle Eastern Companies
Strategic and Ethical Leadership Styles Comparison
Adidas Company’ Leadership Issues
Bill Gates’s Leadership and Success Factors
Leadership in the Early Childhood Field
Advantages and Limitations of Online Leadership
Global Leadership Barriers and Overcoming Measures
Classical Leadership Style and Aristotle’s Perspective
Sheikh Zayed’s Authentic Leadership
J. Carranza’s Leadership at United Parcel Service Company
Thyressa Williams’ Leadership Interview
Mandela’s Leadership: Long Walk to Freedom
Poor Leadership as a Cause of Employee Turnover
Global Leadership Development
Strategic Leadership: Gap Inc.
Leadership as One of the Important Factors in any Organization
Strategic Thinking and Strategic Leadership
Meliá Hotels International: The Leadership Model
Relationship Between Personality and Leadership Style
Leadership and Organisational Change in MCFC
Kofi Annan Leadership Traits
The Effect of Leadership in Project Management
Reflection on Leadership and Sustainability: SKK Inc
Performance Management: Key Strategies and Practical Guidelines
Commander Abrashoff leadership Style
The Benefits of Transformational Leadership
Human Resource Management – Leadership Qualities
Leadership and Management
Educational Leadership in School
Leadership in the 21st Century
Jamie Oliver and Leadership in the Food Industry
James Madison’s Leadership Qualities
Contingency Theories of Leadership
Introduction to the Four Functions of Management
Leadership & Direction: Questions to Ask
Leadership Models and Theories: Management Process in Organization
GlaxoSmithKline’s Leadership Management Framework
Is Ethical Behavior and Leadership a Challenge to Law Enforcement Officers?
Management, Leadership and Communication
The Failure of Leadership in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Leadership Traits and Characteristics
Situational Leadership Theory & Path-Goal Leadership Theory
Followership and Servant Leadership in the Military
Leadership at Qatar National Bank
Personal Vision Statement in Organizational Leadership
Elizabeth Bloomer Ford’s Leadership Development
Healthcare: Organizational Structures & Leadership
Singapore Mass Rapid Transit Company’s Leadership Style
Warren Buffett’s Leadership Style in Business
School Leadership: Concepts and Evidence
Leadership Legacy Issues
Leadership is Action and Not Position
Transformational Leadership at Virgin Group
Leadership Styles in the UK, USA, and Japan
Regional Strategies for Global Leadership
Culture Effects on Leadership Styles and Behavior
Leadership Ideals of Robert Nardelli Under Various Trait Theories
Machiavelli and Othello’s Leadership Skills
Maxwell’s 21 Irrefutable Laws of leadership
Ethical and Unethical Leadership in Healthcare
Organizational Motivation and Leadership in Workplace
The Status of Women in Leadership
Leadership Commitment Statement on Prevention of Workplace Violence
Personal Leadership Style Analysis
Community Leadership in Personal Experience
Bedside Shift Reporting: Essentials of Nursing Leadership and Management
Pacesetting as a Leadership Concept
Leadership Styles: Democratic and Collective
Leadership SMART Goal: Effective Communication
Professional Development Plan: Developing Leadership
Personal Experience of Ineffective Leadership
Public Leadership and Its Qualities
Future-Ready Leadership Strategies in the New Age
Leadership on Boeing Analysis
Leadership Themes and Recreation
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: Leadership Analysis
Organizational Structures and Leadership in Hospitals
Relationship of Problem Solving to Leadership
Positive Behaviour Leadership Model in Teaching
Social Change and Servant Leadership Models
Leadership: Johari Window and Transactional Analyses
Team Leadership in “Apollo 13” by Ron Howard
Transformational Leadership and Management Skills
Autocratic, Democratic, Free-Rein, Coaching Leadership
Jeff Bezos’s Leadership and the Amazon Revolution
Leadership Models: Problem Solving Analysis
George Washington: Servant Leadership and Communication
Hovey and Beard Company: Leadership and Management
Workplace Diversity and Challenges of Leadership
International Business Machines: Leadership Development
Organisational Performance and Leadership
The Political Leadership Conception
Thomas Hobbes and John Stuart Mill’ Views on Leadership
Steve Jobs’ Leadership Style
Leadership and Organisational Change
Importance and Role of Leadership in Globalization
Complexity Theory Models of Leadership with Other Models of Leadership
The Concept of Leadership
Success Factors and Leadership Strategies: Southwest Airlines and Emirates Airlines
Instructional Leadership
Quality Management Systems
“Twin Cities” Strategic Management & Leadership
Leadership and Management Definition
The Importance of Leadership in Shaping the Direction an Organization
The leadership of Amazon
Leadership: Alan Keith
The Impact of Leadership Styles on Organizational Effectiveness
Effective Situational Leadership
The Significance of Strong Leadership in Business Organization
Theories of Situational and Participative Leadership
Leadership: Role, Benefits, and Limitations
Experience with Negative Leadership
The Role of Civic Leadership
Lesson Plan ‘The Concept of Leadership’
The Chartered Management Institute Leadership and Management
The Concept of Leadership in Organizational Success
Strategic Change Leadership in Management
Transformational and Transactional Leadership
Leadership Failure Caused by Followers
Leadership Qualities as a Part of a Team
Spiritual Leadership and Citizenship Behaviors
A Lollipop Moment in Leadership
The Main Characteristics of Servant Leadership
Organizational Theory: Democratic Leadership
Leadership Under Cultural Influences
Leadership in Healthcare Management
Adaptive Leadership as a Style and Model
Leadership: Self-Evaluation and Comparison
Bill Gates’ Positive Leadership Behavior
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leadership Program
Task Specialization and Directive Leadership in Beaufort County School District
Mindful Leadership in Managing Critical Change
Strategic Leadership at The New York Yankees Team
Leadership, Family, and Community Collaboration Project
The Crucial Role of Courageous Followers in Effective Leadership
Leadership in Group Counselling
Relation Between Leadership and Police Ethics
Leadership in the Educational Sector
How Nursing Professionals Can Benefit From Servant Leadership
Leadership and Innovations: Article Review
Applying Five Leadership Practices
Transformational and Servant Leadership in Nursing
Strategic Leadership in the United Arab Emirates
Leadership: Theory and Practice
The Plays “The Iliad,” “The Odyssey,” and “Agamemnon”: Understanding of Leadership
Leadership Development Plan in Nursing
Leadership: Character, Competencies, and Virtues
Transformational Leadership Theory: Pros and Cons
Nursing Practice: Leadership and Cooperation
St James Settlement’s Leadership and Management
Servant Leadership in Fannie Lou Hamer
The Art of Communication as the Language of Leadership
Organizational Leadership and Attitude-Behavior Theory
Leadership and Ethical Requirements
Measurement and Leadership Effectiveness in Business
Leadership: Definition and Values
Principles of Management and Leadership Positions
Application of Irrefutable Laws of Leadership in the Military
French and Raven’s Five Forms of Power: An Overview
Leadership Style as an Important Element of the Nursing Practice
Leadership Styles Across Generations Working in Wal-Mart Store
Christ’s Approach to Leadership: Transformational Leadership Theory
Morale and Leadership, Encouragement, Dedication, and Commitment Within a Band
Elon Musk: Leadership, Financial Success, and the Future of Tesla
Leadership in Turbulent Times: Key Takeaways
Brand Leadership by Levi’s and Coca-Cola in Going Green
Leadership Role of Creating Safe Nursing Environment
Clinical Nurse Leadership Program
Transformational Leadership at School Sites
Fostering Effective Leadership and Collaboration in Human Services
Behavioral and Situational Leadership: Pros and Cons
Leadership Skills, Goals and Vision of Nurses
Educational Theories and Leadership Studies
Communication Style and Leadership
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and Its Leadership Culture
Effective Leadership Analysis
Transformational Leadership: Essential Strategies
Servant Leadership Characteristic Evaluation: Conceptualization
Maintaining a Leadership Position in a Company
A District Director Nurse’s Leadership Roles
Effective Leadership: Traits and Behaviors
Assignment: Student Integrity and Nursing Leadership
How Contemporary Leadership Styles Are Relevant in Today’s Military
Diversity as One of the Principles for Sustainability Leadership
Leadership in Nursing Practice
Exploring Power Constructs in Leadership: A Self-Reflective Study
Servant Leadership: The Key Aspects
Leadership and Management: Reflection
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Leadership Reflection
Leadership Foundations in Nursing Practice
Presidential Leadership: Diplomatic History
IoT and G.E.’s Leadership Position
Principles of Leadership and Future of Terrorism
Leadership at the Reuters Holdings PLC Company
The Foundation of Army Leadership and Its Factors
Leadership in a Multinational Organization
The Ryno Firm’s Demands of Responsible Leadership
Two Models of Political Leadership
Change Leadership and Emotional Intelligence
The Hempel Paints Firm’s Leadership for Strategic Execution
Qatari German Medical Devices: Leadership for Strategic Execution
The Home Depot’s Journey Towards Innovation and Effective Change Leadership
Leadership Communication and Management
Culture and Leadership in Health and Social Care
Barack Obama’s Biography and Political Leadership
Modern Leadership: Trends and Challenges
Leadership Leverage at Gunderson Lutheran Health Facility
Gender and Leadership in Healthcare Administration
Leadership Theories and Styles
Leadership Philosophy in Nursing
The Personal Leadership Philosophy in Nursing
Collaborative Leadership Model in Business
Leadership: Summary of Media Interview
Culture and Leadership in Organizations
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Leadership Program
Personal Leadership Philosophies
Leadership Types in Telemedicine
Connective Nursing Leadership
Aspects of Collaborative Leadership
Aspects of Collaborative Leadership Plan
Machiavellian Leadership Style
Organizational Change: The Effect of Transformational Leadership on Employees
My Involvement as a Leader, Leadership Coach, and Development Instructor
Transformational Leadership and Abusive Supervision
Personal Leadership Philosophy in the Sports Industry
The Role of Leadership in a Digitalized World
The Importance of Leadership Training
The Servant Leadership Concept
Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
Holistic View of the Management and Leadership
Leadership Skills for the Negotiation Process
Measuring the Quality of Government Leadership
Collaboration and Leadership in Healthcare
Kouzes and Posner Model of Nursing Leadership
Leadership Formation in the Medical Field
The Leadership and Funding Relationship
Transformational Leadership in a Healthcare Team
Abortion Backlash and Leadership Issues
Strategic Crisis Leadership: South Korea’s Response to Covid-19
Darwin E. Smith’s Level 5 Leadership Characteristics
Change Leadership: Telehealth Technology at Orlando Health
Leadership Style Personality Assessment
The Basic Aspects of Leadership
Leadership in a Digitized World
Authentic Leadership in Healthcare
Aspects of Leadership in Healthcare
Behavioral Theories of Leadership
Personal Leadership Style’s Improvement Areas
Organizational Experiences Based on Leadership
Leadership Analysis in Corporate Governance
Aspects of the Sustainable Leadership Style
Nursing Leadership in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Martin Luther King’s Leadership Approach
Self-Analysis on Democratic Leadership
Leadership Ambiguity in Nursing Practice
Importance of Leadership Skills for Employee
Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Development
Interpersonal Leadership Skills in Bank of America
Developing Organizations and Leadership
Leadership Approaches in Healthcare
Behavioral and Trait Leadership Theories in Medical Educational Setting
Nursing Informatics: Leadership and Administration
Developing Leadership Skills in Nursing: A Proposal
Women’s Leadership During a Crisis
Situational Leadership Analysis
Leadership for Happiness in Workplaces
Leadership in Nursing: Organizational Servant Leadership
Supportive Leadership During COVID-19
The Type of Leadership Described by Daniel Goleman
Transformational Leadership Benefits Innovation
Transformational Leadership at the Walmart Organization
Machiavelli’s The Prince and Cheney’s Leadership
Exploring Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
The Significance in Shaping Emerging Trends in Leadership
Authentic Leadership Style in Business
Leadership Experience Example: Leading a User Research Team
Importance of Leadership Attributes for Healthcare
Importance of Leadership in Healthcare and Nursing
Servant Leadership Benefits in Nursing
Leadership and Its Three Major Models
Adaptive Leadership: The Main Aspects
Boris Johnson: Influence Tactics and Leadership
Discussion of Servant Leadership Behaviors
Analysis of Poor Leadership Experience
Enterprise Holdings at Leadership Styles
The Value of Leadership Skills and Teamworking
Personal Leadership Philosophy in Nursing
Leadership Implementation Regarding Medication Incidents
William White: Leadership Style
Servant Leadership and Decision-Making in Nursing
Leadership Behaviors, Passion, and Devotion
Leadership Environment in Nursing
Leadership in Lost TV Series
Adaptive Leadership in Medical Practice
Can a Dictator Who Developed an Economy Be Considered to Have Leadership?
Does Leadership Affect Employee Commitment Management?
Does Despotic Leadership Harm Employee Family Life?
What Two Characteristics Best Describe Leadership?
Are the Differences Between Management and Leadership?
Does Leadership Style Impact on Projects Team Member Performance?
Can Responsible Leadership Affect Work-Life Balance?
Does Decentralized Leadership Influence the Performance?
What Are the Key of Leadership Skills That Can Not Learn From?
What Are the Critical Factors in Understanding the Nature and Dimensions of Leadership?
How Does Leadership Emerge in a Group That Has No Common History?
What Are Charismatic Leadership?
How Bad Does Leadership Affect the Organization?
How Are Culture and Leadership Linked?
Does Cartel Leadership Facilitate Collusion?
What Is the Role of Machiavellianism in the Relationship Between Authentic Leadership and Morality?
Does Leadership Make a Difference?
How Are Leadership and Management Similar?
Are Leadership Fairness, Psychological Distress, and Role Stressors Interrelated?
How Does Ethical Leadership Influence Employees?
How Does Leadership Work in Different Gangs?
Can Servant Leaders Fuel the Leadership Fire?
Are Leadership Mentoring Programs Beneficial?
Can Transactional Leadership Keep Your Team in Shape?
How Does Authentic Leadership Influence Employee Proactivity?
What Are the Differences Between Management and Leadership?
What Leadership Behaviors and Management Systems Support?
What Are Niccolo Machiavelli’s Ideas on Effective Leadership?
Can Leadership Theory Improve Leadership Quality?
What Is the Relationship Between Leadership Type and Organization Performance?
Career Development Topics
Conflict Resolution Essay Topics
Management Skills Research Topics
Communication Theories Paper Topics
Management Styles Essay Titles
Trait Theory Research Topics
Work Environment Research Topics
Work-Life Balance Essay Titles
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, November 9). 627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/

"627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 9 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples'. 9 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples." November 9, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/leadership-essay-examples/.

Published March 1, 2024
7 Minute Read

4 Keys to Success for Women Leaders

Women's Leadership Topics & Themes Worth Exploring

For women leaders today, success is about more than maintaining balance, breaking barriers, and achieving professional goals. Burdened by the effects of the global pandemic and its aftermath, many women are still feeling spread thin, burnt out, and deeply torn between caregiving responsibilities and work.

During the pandemic, women’s labor force participation dipped to its lowest level in over 3 decades, and although numbers are back up again now to pre-pandemic levels, many organizations are still struggling to retain and regain the women who were disproportionately leaving the workforce.

So before we explore these women’s leadership themes that emerged from our research on what an individual woman can do to bolster her own personal chances of success, we first want to emphasize our belief that the larger culture in which a woman operates will have a direct effect on her ability to succeed.

Key Women’s Leadership Topics & Some Larger Context Around Them

That’s why we say that the most effective investments in women’s leadership take a dual-pronged approach, with a simultaneous focus on increasing equity, providing support, and building a sense of belonging at work , while also ensuring that any development opportunities address important women’s leadership topics and equip individual women to recognize and embrace the themes that will enable them to thrive.

Most importantly, enterprise initiatives to support and develop women leaders (or diversity programs in general) are more likely to be long-lasting and successful when they include a focus on increasing equity. Equity is such a critical and foundational piece of the DEI puzzle that at CCL, we urge organizations to reframe DEI efforts as EDI efforts to prioritize equity first .

With all that being said, our research has found that highly successful women leaders often approach their careers and their lives by embracing these 4 keys to success:

Authenticity,
Connection, and

These 4 themes are woven into their career decisions and leadership styles. Collectively, these themes reveal deeper, more complex images of successful women and offer opportunities for reflection and insight for those who are navigating their leadership journeys. Together, these themes are a useful starting point for individual women to explore, and for organizations to consider as women’s leadership topics to prioritize in their development initiatives and retention efforts.

infographic showing the 4 keys to success for women leaders highlighting the importance of women’s leadership topics

The 4 Keys to Success for Individual Women Leaders

Women’s leadership topics & themes that emerged from our research.

What do we mean by agency? “Agency” refers to intentional actions taken toward achieving a desired goal. Agency is about taking control of your career, being your own pilot, and feeling as if you’re shaping your job, your leadership style, and your life.

For example, women leaders may decide to take steps toward becoming more comfortable exercising authority or being more politically savvy. Strategies for realizing greater agency include:

Analyzing your career steps and living with intention, both at work and at home ;
Asking for challenges outside your current functional orientation to broaden your experience and perspective;
Intentionally cultivating your leadership brand ;
Defining boundaries to help you manage competing responsibilities and seeking out the types of support needed for the work-life juggle ; and
Setting goals that align with your values , and developing a plan for achieving them.

2. Authenticity.

Authenticity is being genuine, and being yourself. As the lines between work and home life continue to blur, it’s more important than ever before for women to resist the urge to comply with policies, expectations, practices, and environments that are in opposition to their needs as leaders.

Authenticity is important for all leaders, but it can be particularly challenging for women to show up as their genuine selves if their organizational culture is rife with gendered double standards. The importance of leading authentically for women in our research study was resounding, whether or not they felt they were living extremely authentic lives.

Authenticity comes from finding your own style, your way of leading. By developing self-awareness, you gain clarity about your values, behaviors, preferences, and skills. You can then determine the gap between “fitting in” and being yourself.

To increase your self-awareness , seek feedback to better understand your own strengths and weaknesses, and to understand the impact you have on others. Evaluate how your needs, motivations, and goals change over time, and continue to reassess what’s of value to you. Look for patterns, but be open to possibilities.

3. Connection.

Connection involves a focus on relationships. A desire for closer friendships and family ties drove many of the goals, choices, and decisions of the women in our study. Even the busiest executives invest in connections, both personally and professionally. To strengthen your professional connections:

Slow down and take time for people.
Build relationships.
Network, network, network.

Relationships and connection are important for all leaders, but they are especially important for women and other historically excluded groups. Learn more about cultivating a network of champions , and if you feel unsure about why or how, explore our networking tips for women . Find a mentor or establish your personal “board of directors” to serve as a support system and sounding board.

4. Wholeness.

Wholeness represents the desire to seek roles beyond work or to unite different life roles into an integrated whole. During these uncertain times, wholeness can sound especially daunting for women who already feel overburdened and/or under-supported at work and home. However, this was the most dominant theme we found in our research.

Some women in our study reported that they were concerned that they had nothing else in their lives but work. Others expressed concern about wholeness because they feel fragmented and divided between work and other life roles. They value multiple roles, life beyond work, and a broader definition of success.

To help you gain a sense of wholeness, let go of the idea that it’s about “balance” and an equitable division of time between work and other roles. Wholeness is about setting priorities and valuing all your commitments. It’s about setting boundaries and saying no to roles or obligations that no longer serve you. Learn more about how to be a holistic leader in every facet of your life.

Access Our Webinar!

Watch our webinar, Change Systems, Not Women: Celebrating “Feminine” Leadership , to learn our recommendations for ways to support and develop women leaders with a systemic lens, and how to take a balanced approach that avoids overvaluing leadership traits traditionally associated with “masculine” qualities over “feminine” ones.

A Closer Look at These 4 Themes at the Enterprise Level

How organizations can prioritize these women’s leadership topics in development initiatives.

As noted above, for women leaders to succeed, their organization’s culture must be structured in a way that supports them in cultivating these 4 keys, and that starts with a focus on equity. Once policies, procedures, and behaviors that promote equity have been established, organizations and senior leaders can additionally encourage women (and everyone) to embrace the 4 themes that our research uncovered are often integral to success, in the following specific ways:

Promote agency by ensuring that bosses give their direct reports as much autonomy as possible. For example, don’t make assumptions about whether a woman on your team might want to take on a difficult new project or role — just ask her directly and let her speak for herself. The key is to cultivate a culture of respect where women leaders feel psychologically safe to share their preferences and perspectives candidly. When individuals feel a sense of agency and control, and psychological safety at work , they’re more likely to stay engaged and committed to their organizations.
Support authenticity by offering resources, training, and ample opportunities to reflect, so leaders better understand their own preferences, motivations, and the ways that aspects of social identity affect how they lead . Senior leaders should focus on building a culture of inclusive leadership so that all people, including women leaders, feel able to bring their whole, authentic selves to work.
Build connections by ensuring senior leaders are aware of the importance of coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship for women. You can download our free resources on sponsoring and mentoring women , which include questions and exercises that can help create connection, opportunities, and building those critical relationships.
Encourage wholeness by making space for your people to gain clarity about what they need and then show support in managing work-life conflicts so they gain greater resilience.

And again, enterprise efforts to develop women leaders in support of these key themes will be most effective if your organization takes a systemic approach to DEI culture change .

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Organizations can support women leaders by providing women’s leadership development exploring all of these women’s leadership topics and by partnering with us to create organizational cultures that that help attract and retain more women and people of color with our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion experts and solutions .

PDF & Print-Friendly Version
Download as PDF

Based on Research by

With over 30 years of experience in the field of leadership development and over 80 publications, Marian is widely regarded as a thought leader in the field. Her particular areas of expertise include the career development of women, work-life integration, the intersection of voice and leadership recognition, and the role of well-being in leadership development. She has worked with a diverse array of colleagues and clients from around the globe conducting both original research and bringing into CCL the best of what the larger field of leadership scholarship has to offer.

Don't miss a single insight! Get our latest cutting-edge, research-based leadership content sent directly to your inbox.

Women, Power & Leadership

Many more women provide visible leadership today than ever before. Opening up higher education for women and winning the battle for suffrage brought new opportunities, along with widespread availability of labor-saving devices and the discovery and legalization of reliable, safe methods of birth control. Despite these developments, women ambitious for leadership still face formidable obstacles: primary if not sole responsibility for childcare and homemaking; the lack of family-friendly policies in most workplaces; gender stereotypes perpetuated in popular culture; and in some parts of the world, laws and practices that deny women education or opportunities outside the home. Some observers believe that only a few women want to hold significant, demanding leadership posts; but there is ample evidence on the other side of this debate, some of it documented in this volume. Historic tensions between feminism and power remain to be resolved by creative theorizing and shrewd, strategic activism. We cannot know whether women are “naturally” interested in top leadership posts until they can attain such positions without making personal and family sacrifices radically disproportionate to those faced by men.

Nannerl O. Keohane , a Fellow of the American Academy since 1991, is a political philosopher and university administrator who served as President of Wellesley College and Duke University. She is currently affiliated with the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University and is a Visiting Scholar at the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford University. Her books include Philosophy and the State in France: The Renaissance to the Enlightenment (1980), Higher Ground: Ethics and Leadership in the Modern University (2006), and Thinking about Leadership (2010). She is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy.

One of the most dramatic changes in recent decades has been the increasing prominence of women in positions of leadership. Many more women are providing leadership in government, business, higher education, nonprofit ventures, and other areas of life, in many more countries of the world, than would ever have been true in the past. This essay addresses four aspects of this development.

I will note the kinds of leadership women have routinely provided, and list factors that help explain why this pattern has changed dramatically in the past half century. I will mention some of the obstacles that still block the path for women in leadership. Then I will ask how ambitious women generally are for leadership, and discuss the fraught relationship between feminism and power, before concluding with a brief look at the future that might lie ahead.

As we approach this subject, we need to understand what we mean by “leadership.” I use the following definition: “Leaders define or clarify goals for a group of individuals and bring together the energies of members of that group to pursue those goals.” 1 This conception is deliberately broad, designed to capture various types of leadership, in various groups, not just the work of leaders who hold the most visible offices in a large society.

A leader can define or clarify goals by issuing a memo or an executive order, an edict or a fatwa or a tweet, by passing a law, barking a command, or presenting an interesting idea in a meeting of colleagues. Leaders can mobilize people’s energies in ways that range from subtle, quiet persuasion to the coercive threat or the use of deadly force. Sometimes a charismatic leader such as Martin Luther King Jr. can define goals and mobilize energies through rhetoric and the power of example.

It is also helpful to distinguish leadership from two closely related concepts: power and authority.

All leaders have some measure of power, in the sense of influencing or determining priorities for other individuals. But leadership cannot be a synonym for holding power. Power is often defined in the straightforward way suggested by political scientist Robert Dahl: “ A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do.” 2 A bully or an assailant with a gun wields power in this sense, but it would not be appropriate to call such a person a “leader.”

Leadership often involves exercising authority with the formal legitimacy of a position in a governmental structure or high office in a large organization. Holding authority in these ways provides clear opportunities for leadership. Yet many men and women we would want to call leaders are not in positions of authority, and not everyone in a formal office provides leadership. As John Gardner, author of several valuable books on leadership, noted, “We have all occasionally encountered top persons who couldn’t lead a squad of seven-year-olds to the ice cream counter.” 3

We can think of leadership as a spectrum, in terms of both visibility and the power the leader wields. On one end of the spectrum, we have the most visible: authoritative leaders like the president of the United States or the prime minister of the United Kingdom, or a dictator such as Hitler or Qaddafi. At the opposite end of the spectrum is casual, low-key leadership found in countless situations every day around the world, leadership that can make a significant difference to the individuals whose lives are touched by it.

Over the centuries, the first kind–the out-in-front, authoritative leadership–has generally been exhibited by men. Some men in positions of great authority, including Nelson Mandela, have chosen a strategy of “leading from behind”; more often, however, top leaders have been quite visible in their exercise of power. Women (as well as some men) have provided casual, low-key leadership behind the scenes. But this pattern has been changing, as more women have taken up opportunities for visible, authoritative leadership.

Across all the centuries of which we have any record, women have been largely absent from positions of formal authority. Such posts, with a few exceptions, were routinely held by men. Women have therefore lacked opportunities to exercise leadership in the most visible public settings. And as both cause and consequence of this fact, leadership has been closely associated with masculinity. In some parts of the world this assumption is still dominant: even in what we think of as the most advanced countries, there are people who think that men are “natural leaders,” and women are meant to follow them.

Yet despite this stubborn linkage between leadership and maleness, some women in almost every society have proved themselves capable of providing strong, visible leadership. Women exercised formal public authority when dynasty or marriage-lines trumped gender, so that Elizabeth I of England or Catherine the Great of Russia could rule as monarch. There are cultures in which wise women are regularly consulted, either as individuals or as members of the council of the tribe. All-female institutions are especially auspicious for women as leaders, including convents, girls’ schools, and women’s colleges, where women have often held authoritative posts.

Women have led in situations where men are temporarily absent: in wartime when the men are away fighting, or in a community like Nantucket in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, where most of the men were whaling in distant seas for years at a time. Women have provided visible leadership in movements for social betterment, including the prohibition and settlement house campaigns of the late nineteenth century and the battle for women’s suffrage. “First ladies” have leveraged their access to power to promote important causes. The impressive accomplishments of Jane Addams and Eleanor Roosevelt stand as prime examples of female leadership. Women have been leaders in family businesses in many different settings. And countless women across history have provided leadership in education, religious activities, care for the sick and wounded, cultural affairs, and charity for the poor.

So that’s a rough, impressionistic survey of the leadership women have exercised in the past: a very few “out front,” as queens or abbesses or heads of school, with many providing more informal leadership in smaller communities or behind the scenes.

This picture has changed dramatically in the past half-century. Many more women today hold authoritative posts, as prime ministers, heads of universities, CEOs of corporations, presidents of nonprofit organizations, and bishops in Protestant denominations. Why has this happened in the past few decades, rather than sooner, or later, or never?

As we ponder this question, we must also note that the changes have proceeded unevenly. It is still unusual for a woman to be CEO of a major public corporation or the president of a country with direct elections for the head of government, as distinct from parliamentary systems. Women’s leadership in religious organizations depends on the doctrines of the religion or sect and the influences of the surrounding society on how these doctrines are interpreted. We will look at some of the barriers blocking change in these and other areas.

And finally, are women as ambitious for leadership as men, or are there systematic differences between the two sexes in the appetite for gaining and using power? Can tensions between the core concepts of feminism and the wielding of power help us understand these issues?

In the past half-century, fifty-six women have served as president or prime minister of their countries. 4 In the United States, women hold office as senators and congresswomen, governors and mayors, cabinet officers and university presidents, heads of foundations and social service agencies, rabbis, generals, and principal investigators. Women have been the CEOs of GM, IBM, Yahoo, and Pepsi-Cola. There are women judges sitting at all levels of the court system, and women leaders in several prominent international organizations.

In the United States, the unprecedented numbers of women candidates in the 2018 midterm elections and the 2019 Democratic presidential primaries are striking examples of women tackling the long-standing identification of leadership with masculinity. One hundred and seventeen women won office in 2018, including ninety-six members of the House of Representatives, twelve senators, and nine governors. Each of these was a record number, compared with any year in the past. 5 Among Democrats, female candidates were more likely to win than their male counterparts. 6 Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for the presidency was a significant step in splintering, if not yet shattering, one of the hardest “glass ceilings” in the world. And Angela Merkel’s deft leadership for Germany and the European Union has provided a model for women in politics worldwide.

We can multiply instances from many different fields, from many different contexts: women today are much more likely to provide visible leadership in major institutions than they have been at any time in history.

Yet why have these changes occurred precisely at this time? I’ll suggest half a dozen factors that have made it possible for women to take these significant strides in leadership.

First is the establishment of institutions of higher education for women to-ward the end of the nineteenth century. Both men and women worked to open male institutions to women and to build schools and colleges specifically for women students. Careers and activities that had been beyond the reach of all women now for the first time became a plausible ambition. Higher education provided a new platform for leadership by women in many fields.

Virginia Woolf’s powerful essay A Room of One’s Own (1929) makes clear how crucial it was for women to be educated in a university setting. College degrees allowed women to enter professions previously barred to them and, as a result, become financially independent of their fathers and husbands and gain a measure of control over their own lives. Woolf’s less well-known but equally powerful treatise from 1939, Three Guineas, considers the impact of this development on social institutions and practices, including the relations between women and men.

The second crucial development, beginning in the late nineteenth century, was the invention of labor-saving devices such as washing machines and dryers, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, followed in the second half of the twentieth century by computers and, later still, electronic assistants capable of ordering goods online to be delivered to your door. The women (or men) in charge of running a household today have far more mechanical and electronic support than ever before.

Ironically, for middle-class Americans today, much of the time freed up by these labor-saving devices has been redirected into “super-parenting”: parents are expected to spend much more time educating, protecting, and developing the skills of their children. Yet one might hope that these patterns could be more malleable than the punishing work required of our great-grandmothers to maintain a household.

Third is the success of the long struggle for women’s suffrage in many countries early in the twentieth century. Even more than the efforts that opened colleges and universities for women, the suffrage movements were deliberate, well-organized campaigns in which women leaders used their sources of influence strategically to obtain their goals. Enfranchised women could vote for candidates who advocated policies with particular resonance for them, including family- and child-oriented regulations and laws that tackled discriminatory practices in the labor market. Many female citizens voted as their fathers and husbands did; but the possibility of using the ballot box to pursue their priority interests was for the first time available to them. Women could also stand for election and be appointed to government offices. It is important to note, however, that in the United States, the success of the movement was tarnished by the denial of the vote to many Black persons in the South until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 7

Fourth factor: the easy availability of reliable methods of birth control. Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own gives a vivid portrayal of women in earlier centuries who were hungry for knowledge or professional activity but bore and tended multiple children, making it impossible to find either the time or the opportunity to be educated. In the early twentieth century, there was for the first time widespread public discussion of the methods and moral dimensions of birth control. The opportunity to engage in family planning by controlling the number and timing of births gave women more freedom to engage in other tasks without worrying about unwanted pregnancies. By 1960, when “the pill” became the birth control device of choice for millions of women, the battle for legal contraception had largely been won in most of the world.

Next is women’s liberation, the “second wave” of feminism from the late 1960s through the early 1980s. This multifaceted movement encouraged countless women to reenvision their options and led to important changes in attitudes, behavior, and legal systems. The ideas of the movement were originally developed by women in Western Europe and the United States, but the implications were felt worldwide, and women in many other countries provided examples of feminist ideas and activities.

Among the most important by-products of the feminist movement in the United States was Title IX, passed as part of the Education Amendments Act in 1972. New opportunities for women in athletics and in combatting job discrimination followed the passage of this bill. There is ample evidence that participating in sports strengthens a girl’s self-confidence as well as her physical capacity. 8 And although the Equal Rights Amendment has not passed, the broadened application of the Fourteenth Amendment by federal courts made a significant difference in opening up equal opportunities for women.

A fifth factor contributing to greater scope for women’s activities is the change in economic patterns–contemporary capitalism–in which many families feel that they need two incomes to maintain themselves or achieve the lifestyle they covet. This puts more women in the workforce and thus on a potential ladder to leadership, despite remaining biases against women in jobs as varied as construction, teaching economics in a university, representing clients in major trials, and fighting forest fires.

Finally, the change in social expectations that is the cumulative result of all these developments, so that for the first time in history, in many parts of the world, it seems “natural” that a woman might be ambitious for a major leadership post and that with the right combination of talent, experience, and luck, she might actually get it. The more often it happens, the more likely it is that others will be inspired to follow that example, whereas in the past, it would never have occurred to a young girl that she might someday be CEO of a company, head of a major NGO, member of Congress, dean of a cathedral, or president of a university.

If you simply project forward the trajectory we have seen since the 1960s, you might assume that the future will be one in which all top leadership posts finally become gender-neutral, as often held by women as by men. The last bastions will fall, and it will be just as likely that the CEO of a company or the president of the country will be a woman as a man; the same will be true of other forms of leadership.

Sometimes we act as though this is the obvious path ahead, and the only question is how long it will take. On this point, the evidence is discouraging. The Gender Parity Project of the World Economic Forum predicted in 2015 that “if you were born today, you would be 118 years old when the economic gender gap is predicted to close in 2133.” 9 The report also notes that although gender parity around the world has dramatically improved in the areas of health and education, “only about 60% of the economic participation gap and only 21% of the political empowerment gap have been closed.”

Yet however glacial the rate of change, we may think: “we’ll get there eventually, because that’s where things are moving.” You might call this path convergence toward parity between men and women as leaders. This is the scenario that appears to underlie much of our current thinking, even if we have not articulated it as such.

This scenario, however, ignores some formidable barriers that women ambitious for formal leadership still face. Several familiar images or metaphors have been coined to make this point: “glass ceiling” or “leaky pipeline.” In Through the Labyrinth , sociologists Alice Eagly and Linda Carli use the ancient female image of the “labyrinth” to describe the multiple obstacles women face on the path to top leadership. It’s surely not a straight path toward eventual convergence. 10

The first and most fundamental obstacle to achieving top leadership in any field is that women in almost all societies still have primary (if not sole) responsibility for childcare and homemaking. Few organizations (or nation-states) have workplace policies that support family-friendly lifestyles, including high-quality, reliable, affordable childcare; flexible work schedules while children are young; and support for anyone caring for a sick child or aging parent. This makes things very hard for working parents, and especially for working mothers.

The unyielding expectation that one must show one’s seriousness about a job by being available to work nine- or ten-hour days, being on-call at any time of the week, and ready to move the family to wherever one’s services are needed is a tremendous obstacle to the advancement of women. Although hours worked are correlated with productivity in some jobs and professions, the situation is far more complicated than such a simple metric would indicate. Nonetheless, this measure is often used for promotion and job opportunities, explicitly or in a more subtle fashion. This expectation cuts heavily against a working mother, or a father who might want to spend significant time with his young children.

One of the most stubborn obstacles in the labyrinth is the lack of “on-ramps”: that is, pathways for women (or men) who have “stopped out” to manage a household and raise their children to rejoin their professions at a level commensurate with their talent and past experience. 11 Choices made when one’s children are born are likely to define the available options for a mother for the rest of her life, in terms of professional opportunities and salary level. We need more flexible pathways through the labyrinth so that women (or men) can–if they wish–spend more time with their kids in their earliest years and still get back on the fast track and catch up.

We need to work toward a world in which marriage with children more often involves parenting and homemaking by both partners, so that all the burden does not fall on the mother. We urgently need more easily available high-quality childcare outside the home so that working parents can be assured that their kids are well cared for while they both work full time. Reaching this goal will require more deliberate action on the part of governments, businesses, and policy-makers to create family-friendly workplaces. Such policies are in place in several European countries but have not so far been implemented in the United States. 12

Other labyrinthine obstacles include gender stereotypes that keep getting in the way of women being judged simply on their own accomplishment. Women are supposed to be nurturing, but if you are kind and sensitive, somebody will say you are not tough enough to make hard decisions; if you show that you are up to such challenges, you may be described as “shrill” or “bitchy.” This “catch-22” clearly plagued Hillary Rodham Clinton in her first campaign for the presidency and took an even more virulent form in her second campaign, when her opponent in the general election and his supporters regularly shouted profoundly misogynistic comments at her.

Women also have fewer opportunities to be mentored. Many (not all) senior women are happy to mentor other women; but if there aren’t any senior women around, and the men aren’t sympathetic, you don’t get this support. Some senior male professors or corporate leaders do try specifically to advance the careers of young women, but many male bosses find it easier to mentor young men, seeing them as younger versions of themselves; they take them out for a beer or a round of golf, and find it hard to imagine doing this for young women.

The #MeToo movement has brought valuable support to many women unwilling to speak out about sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. This is surely a significant step in removing obstacles to women’s advancement. However, this very visible effort has also made some male bosses nervous about reaching out to female subordinates in ways that might be misinterpreted. Men who are already deeply committed to advancing the cause of women do not usually react this way, but those who are less committed may use the #MeToo movement as an excuse not to support women employees, or more often, be genuinely uncertain about which boundaries are inappropriate to cross.

Another insidious obstacle for women on the path to top leadership is popular culture, a formidable force in shaping expectations for young people. Contemporary media rarely suggest a high-powered career as an appropriate ambition for a person of the female sex. The ambitions of girls and women are discouraged when they are taught to be deferential to males and not to compete with them for resources, including power and recognition. Women internalize these expectations, which leads us to question our own abilities. Women are much less likely to put themselves forward for a promotion, a fellowship, or a demanding assignment than men even when they are objectively more qualified in terms of their credentials. 13

And finally, in terms of obstacles to women’s out-front leadership, I have so far been describing the situation in Western democracies. As we know, women who might want to be involved in political activity or provide leadership in any institution face even more formidable obstacles in many parts of the world today. Think of Afghanistan, where the Taliban have denied women education or any opportunities outside the home. For young women in such settings, achieving professional status and leadership is a very distant dream.

For all of these reasons, therefore–expectations of primary responsibility for domestic duties, absence of “on-ramps” for returning to the workforce, gender stereotypes, absence of mentors, the power of popular culture, if not systematic exclusion from political activity–women ambitious for out-front leadership must deal with significant barriers that do not confront their male peers.

Addressing the topic of women’s leadership in terms of the obstacles we face makes sense, however, only if significant numbers of women are ambitious for top leadership. In an essay entitled “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby–and You’ve Got Miles to Go,” leadership scholar Barbara Kellerman asks us to consider the possibility that most women really do not want such jobs. As she put it, “Work at the top of the greasy pole takes time, saps energy, and is usually all-consuming.” So “maybe the trade-offs high positions entail are ones that many women do not want to make.” Maybe, in other words, there are fewer women senators or CEOs because women “do not want what men have.” 14

If Kellerman is right, as women see what such positions entail, fewer will decide that high-profile leadership is where our ambitions lie, and the numbers of women in such posts will recede from the high-water mark of the late twentieth century toward something more like the world before 1950. Women have proved that we can do it, in terms of high-powered, visible leadership posts. We have seen the promised land, and many women will decide they are happier where most women traditionally have been.

We found something of this kind in a Princeton study on the fortieth anniversary of the university’s decision to include women as undergraduates. President Shirley Tilghman charged a Steering Committee on Undergraduate Women’s Leadership, which issued its report in March 2011, with determining “whether women undergraduates are realizing their academic potential and seeking opportunities for leadership at the same rate and in the same manner as their male colleagues.” 15 In a nutshell, the answer was no: women were not seeking leadership opportunities at the same rate or in the same manner.

Many recent Princeton alumnae and current female students the committee surveyed or interviewed in 2010 were not interested in holding very visible leadership positions like student government president or editor of the Princetonian ; they were more comfortable leading behind the scenes, as vice president or treasurer. There had not been a female president of the student government or of the first-year class at Princeton in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Other young women told us that they were not interested in the traditional student government organizations and instead wanted to lead in an organization that would focus on something they cared about, working for a cause: the environment, education reform, tutoring at Princeton, or a dance club or an a cappella group.

When we asked young women about this, they told us that they preferred to put their efforts where they could have an impact, in places where they could actually get the work of the organization done, rather than advancing their own resumés or having a big title. In this, they gave different answers than many of their male peers. Their attitudes also differed markedly from those of the alumnae who first made Princeton coeducational forty years before. Those women in the 1970s or 1980s were feisty pioneers determined to prove that they belonged at Princeton against considerable skepticism and opposition. They showed very different aspirations than the female students of the first decade of the twentieth century and occupied all the major leadership posts on campus on a regular basis.

Thus, our committee discovered (to quote our first general finding): “There are differences–subtle but real–between the ways most Princeton female undergraduates and most male undergraduates approach their college years, and in the ways they navigate Princeton when they arrive.” We found statistically significant differences between the ambitions and comfort-levels of undergraduate men and women at Princeton in 2010, in terms of the types of leadership that appealed to them and the ways they thought about power.

If you project forward our Princeton findings, and if Barbara Kellerman and others who share her assumptions are correct, there is no reason to believe that women and men will converge in terms of types of leadership. You might instead predict that these differential ambitions will mean that women will always choose and occupy less prominent leadership posts than men, even as they make a significant difference behind the scenes.

However, this conclusion is at odds with the way things are changing today, at Princeton and elsewhere. In addition to hearing from women who preferred low-key posts, our committee learned that women who did consider running for an office like president of college government often got the message from their peers (mostly their male peers) that such posts are more appropriately sought by men. As the discussion of women’s leadership intensifies on campus, more women stand for offices they might not have considered relevant before. Quite a few women have held top positions on campus in the past decade.

The Princeton women tell us that mentoring is very important and being encouraged to compete for a post makes a big difference. When someone–an older student, a friend or colleague, a faculty or staff member–says to a young woman: “You really ought to run for this office, you’d be really good at this,” she is much more likely to decide to be a candidate. There is a good deal of evidence that this is true far beyond the Princeton campus, including the experiences of women who decide to run for political office or state their interest in a top corporate post. 16

Therefore, to those who assert that there is a “natural” difference in motivation that explains the disparities between men and women in leadership, I would respond that we cannot know whether this is true until more women are encouraged to take on positions of leadership. We cannot determine, also, whether women are “naturally” interested in top leadership posts until women everywhere can attain such positions without making personal and family sacrifices radically disproportionate to those faced by men.

In asking what drove the dramatic change in women’s opportunities for leadership over the past half-century, I mentioned as one factor the strength of second-wave feminism. From the point of view of women and leadership, it is ironic that this movement was firmly and explicitly opposed to having any individual speak for and make decisions for other members. The cherished practice was “consciousness-raising,” with a focus on group-enabled insights. The search for consensus and common views was a significant feature of any activity projected by feminist groups in this period.

Second-wave feminism led to some significant advances for women, but the rejection of any out-front leadership meant that the gains were more limited than some members of the movement had envisioned. As was the case with Occupy Wall Street in the twenty-first century, the rejection of visible public leadership constrained the development and implementation of policy, despite the passion and commitment displayed by thousands of participants. The antipathy of second-wave feminists to power, authority, and leadership also means that it is hard to envision a feminist conception of leadership without coming to terms with this legacy.

This tension between “feminism” and “power” long predates the second wave. As women from Mary Wollstonecraft onward have attempted to understand disparities between the situation of women and men, the power held by men–in the state, the economy, and the household–has been a central part of the explanation. Feminists have often identified power with patriarchy, and therefore seen power as antipathetic to their interests as women striving to flourish as independent, creative human beings, rather than as a possible tool for change.

As a result of this age-old linkage of power with patriarchy, one further step in the decades-long progression of women from subordinate positions to positions of authority and leadership is a reconstruction of what it means to provide leadership and hold power. These activities must be detached from their fundamental connection to patriarchy, to make them more compatible with womanhood. There is evidence that this is happening today, as more and more women see power as relevant for accomplishing their goals and are increasingly willing to be seen wielding it with determination and even relish.

Many women today, in multiple contexts and in different parts of the world, are becoming more comfortable with exercising authority and holding power, and are openly ambitious to do so. These leaders see no need to deny or worry about their femininity, but instead concentrate on gaining power and getting things done. For these women, to a large extent, their sex/gender is not a relevant variable.

However, the other side of the equation–men and other women becoming comfortable with women in power and seeing their sex/gender as irrelevant–is lagging behind. Women are ready to take on significant public leadership positions in ways that have never been true before. But what about their potential followers? Large numbers of citizens in many countries and employees in many organizations–men and women–may still be reluctant to accept women as leaders who hold significant power over their lives.

This fluid situation calls both for creative feminist theorizing and for consolidating steps that are already being taken in practice. One of the most effective ways to provide the groundwork for this next stage of development is for more and more women to step forward for leadership posts. As with other profound social changes, including a broader acceptance of homosexuality and support for gay marriage, observing numerous instances of the phenomenon that initially appears “unnatural” can lead, over a remarkably short period of time, to changes in values and beliefs.

People who discover that valued friends, coworkers, or family members are gay are often likely to change their views on homosexuality. The same, one might hypothesize, will be true with women in power, as powerful women become a “normal” part of governments and corporations. The more women we see in positions of power and authority, the more “natural” it will seem for women to hold such posts.

In the final section of the Princeton report, we spoke of a world in which both women and men take on all kinds of leadership posts, out front and behind the scenes, high profile and supportive. This is neither convergence toward parity nor differential ambitions: it is a change in patterns of leadership and in the understanding of what posts are worth striving for, for both women and men.

Some of the Princeton students who argued for the importance of working for a cause saw themselves as carving out a new model of leadership. They rejected the unspoken assumption behind our study that the (only) form of leadership that really counts is being head of student government or president of your class. In doing this, they were reflecting some of the values of second-wave feminism, even when they were not aware of this influence. Believing that a visible leadership post, with a big title and a corner office, is the only type of leadership worth aspiring to is the kind of conception that second-wave feminism was determined to undermine.

Nonetheless, it remains true–and important–that the out-front, high-profile offices in the major organizations and institutions of a society come with exceptional opportunities to influence the course of events and the directions taken by large communities. Even as we value work done behind the scenes and in support of a worthy cause, we should not forget that the leaders who have the most power and the greatest degree of authority in any society are the ones who can make the most substantial difference in the world. Such posts should no longer be disproportionately held by men.

In the conclusion of her feminist classic The Second Sex , published in 1949, Simone de Beauvoir reminds us that it is very hard to anticipate clearly things we have not yet seen, and that in trying to do this, we often impoverish the world ahead. As she puts it, “Let us not forget that our lack of imagination always depopulates the future.” 17 In her chapter on “The Independent Woman,” she writes:

The free woman is just being born. . . . Her “worlds of ideas” are not necessarily different from men’s, because she will free herself by assimilating them; to know how singular she will remain and how important these singularities will be, one would have to make some foolhardy predictions. What is beyond doubt is that until now women’s possibilities have been stifled and lost to humanity, and in her and everyone’s interest it is high time she be left to take her own chances. 18

Because several generations of women and men have worked hard since 1949 to make the path easier for women, our possibilities as leaders are no longer “lost to humanity.” But these gifts are still stifled to some extent, and we are still operating with models of leadership designed primarily by and for men. It is surely high time we as women–with support from our partners, our families, our colleagues, from the political system, and from society as a whole–take our own chances.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

For helpful comments, I am much indebted to Robert O. Keohane, Shirley Tilghman, Nancy Weiss Malkiel, and Dara Strolovich; to the participants in our authors’ conference in April 2019; and to students and colleagues who raised thoughtful questions after the Albright Lecture at Wellesley College in January 2014 and the Astor Lecture at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University, in March 2016.

1 Nannerl O. Keohane, Thinking about Leadership (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2010), 23.
2 Robert Dahl, “The Concept of Power,” Behavioral Science 2 (3) (1957): 202.
3 John W. Gardner, On Leadership (New York: Free Press, 1990), 2.
4 A. W. Geiger and Lauren Kent, “ Number of Women Leaders around the World Has Grown, but They’re Still a Small Group ,” Fact Tank, Pew Research Center, March 8, 2017.
5 Maya Salam, “ A Record 117 Women Won Office, Reshaping America’s Leadership ,” The New York Times , November 7, 2018.
6 Center for American Women and Politics, “By the Numbers: Women Congressional Candidates in 2018,” September 12, 2018.
7 On this topic, see Nannerl O. Keohane and Frances McCall Rosenbluth, “Introduction,” Dædalus 149 (1) (Winter 2020).
8 Anne Bowker, “The Relationship between Sports Participation and Self-Esteem During Early Adolescence,” Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science 38 (3) (2006): 214–229.
9 World Economic Forum, “ Gender Parity .”
10 Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carli. Through the Labyrinth: The Truth about How Women Become Leaders (Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 2007).
11 Sylvia Ann Hewlett, “Off-Ramps and On-Ramps: Women’s Non-Linear Career Paths,” in Women and Leadership: The State of Play and Strategies for Change , ed. Barbara Kellerman and Deborah L. Rhode (San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2007), 407–430.
12 Francine D. Blau and Lawrence M. Kahn, “Female Labor Supply: Why Is the United States Falling Behind?” The American Economic Review 103 (3) (2013): 251–256.
13 Institute of Leadership and Management, “ Ambition and Gender at Work ” (London: Institute of Leadership and Management, 2010).
14 Barbara Kellerman, “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby–and You’ve Got Miles to Go,” in The Difference “Difference” Makes , ed. Deborah Rhode (Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 2002), 55.
15 Steering Committee on Undergraduate Women’s Leadership, Report of the Steering Committee on Undergraduate Women’s Leadership (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University, 2011).
16 Richard Fox and Jennifer Lawless, “Uncovering the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambitions,” American Political Science Review 108 (3) (2014): 499–519; and Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox, It Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005).
17 Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, trans. and ed. Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier (New York: Random House, 2011), 765.
18 Ibid., 751.

Women in Leadership

How it works

Introduction:

Women in leadership is a vastly growing subject but has yet to become a dramatic reality. There are many harsh realities and criticisms surrounding women in positions of power. Some good and some bad, they consistently surround women and it’s rare that these issues surround men. Women currently make up more than 50% of Earth’s population, make up most of population to hold master’s and post-doctoral degrees, make up about 50% of managerial staff, however women only account for an estimated 4-5% of leaders such as CFO’s and CEO’s.

These statistics are blatantly clear especially when looking at the Healthcare industry. Women are the primary employee’s in the industry making up roughly 78% of the overall, but only about 25% of this 78% is made up of female leaders. It’s a bewildering statistic seeing as women hold their own unique characteristics that could be brought to the table when leading a company or organization. There are also a lot of negatives that women need to combat within leadership roles such as, gender discrimination, sexism, uneven workload, wage gaps and overall scrutiny simply because they are women.

Women are often looked down upon as a woman in power is not the gender norm we know. Women challenge gender bias and are often viewed as a threat to their male counterparts. The Healthcare Industry is always changing, from technologic advances, to ideologies, to the expansion in diversity. With these new advances comes a wave of new leadership with women at the forefront. Women are known to be compassionate, critical thinkers, nurturers by nature, problem solvers and overall well rounded and just as knowledgeable as their male counterparts. It should be noted that women do bring a lot to the table in terms of leadership. It has been proven that statistically groups and teams where women and men work together, achieve higher goals than all male or all female groups. So not only do women motivate themselves, they naturally motivate their male counterparts. The future is bright for women in general but in terms of positions of leadership, the Healthcare Industry is one of the leading industries where women could see the most growth for various reasons.

So, what does this mean for women in the Healthcare Industry? It means exactly this, women, get ready to give these men a run for their money. Body: Historically leadership ideologies were based on male stereotypes. The first theory known as the “Great Man Theory” explained that the traits that a man was born with determined the course of his future. This brought about the study and drive to find new theories around leadership. However, most of these theories began being developed in the 1940s where there were next to no women in the workforce. Male dominated characteristics or traits in leadership made up the ascribed model for leadership while the caring, nurturing, and relationship-building characteristics attributed to women were not seen as characteristics that had any bearing on one’s leadership ability. (McEldowney, Bobrowski, Gramberg, 2009.) Women have played a vital role in leadership since women were allowed in the workforce post World War II. The Healthcare industry is among one of the few industries where women dominate. Although women make up nearly 78% of the healthcare workforce (Kircheimer, 2007), most individuals in top ranks of CEO, CFO and COO are male.

Women do hold a set of characteristics that their male counterparts lack, which can be a threat to men in leadership roles. Women are usually seen as weak and timid, when, women are more nurturing, compassionate, and build stronger personal relationships with people and their staff. A rigid structure has always been more of a males leadership style, and never showing emotion or compassion has always been the norm. The working world as a whole is seen as a males world, and this is not different when it comes to the healthcare industry and women in positions of leadership. Some bias comes when a female leader first begins their careers and don’t necessarily know where they stand in regards to their male counterparts. “To be successful in this environment, women must understand the culture and values to offset the gender-based attitudes of male colleagues” (Elias, 2018). who are currently in leadership positions tend to be looked at as lesser and tend to be evaluated much lower than men.

Receiving lower evaluations can reduce the likelihood of an individual’s promotion and advancement through an organization and also results in lower salaries (e.g., Lyness & Heilman, 2006). Women are also consistently paid less than men even when completing the same jobs or holding the same positions of power. This is no different in the Healthcare Industry. Women face a lot of adversity in leadership roles, however this should not make women feel as though they are not good enough or should never strive to become a successful leader.

Cite this page

Women in Leadership. (2021, May 10). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/women-in-leadership/

"Women in Leadership." PapersOwl.com , 10 May 2021, https://papersowl.com/examples/women-in-leadership/

PapersOwl.com. (2021). Women in Leadership . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/women-in-leadership/ [Accessed: 7 Jun. 2024]

"Women in Leadership." PapersOwl.com, May 10, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/women-in-leadership/

"Women in Leadership," PapersOwl.com , 10-May-2021. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/women-in-leadership/. [Accessed: 7-Jun-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2021). Women in Leadership . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/women-in-leadership/ [Accessed: 7-Jun-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Essay on Women in Leadership

Students are often asked to write an essay on Women in Leadership in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Women in Leadership

Introduction.

Women in leadership is an important issue. Leaders shape our societies and when women are leaders, they bring unique perspectives and solutions.

Historical Context

Historically, women faced many barriers to leadership. Despite this, some women like Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I showed great leadership.

Modern Times

Today, more women are leaders in politics, business, and other fields. They are proving that women can lead effectively.

Benefits of Women Leaders

Women leaders often focus on cooperation, empathy, and long-term thinking. These qualities can lead to better decisions and outcomes.

We need more women in leadership roles. This will lead to a more balanced and fair society.

250 Words Essay on Women in Leadership

Women have been historically underrepresented in leadership roles, a disparity that has roots in societal norms and gender stereotypes. However, the 21st century has seen significant strides in challenging these norms, with more women assuming leadership positions across various sectors.

Changing Landscape

The landscape of leadership is changing, with an increasing number of women breaking the glass ceiling. This shift is not just a matter of equality, but also of optimizing organizational performance. Studies have shown that companies with women in executive positions tend to outperform those without, indicating that gender diversity can be a competitive advantage.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the progress, women in leadership continue to face unique challenges. Stereotypes persist, and women are often expected to demonstrate leadership styles that conform to traditionally masculine norms. However, the evolving understanding of effective leadership is creating opportunities for women. Emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and collaborative decision-making—strengths often associated with women—are being recognized as valuable leadership traits.

The rise of women in leadership roles is a testament to societal progress towards gender equality. While challenges remain, the changing perception of leadership presents an opportunity for further progress. The future of leadership is not just about having more women leaders, but about redefining leadership in a way that values and leverages the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring to the table.

500 Words Essay on Women in Leadership

The perception of women in leadership roles has undergone a significant transformation throughout history. Despite the numerous challenges they have faced, women have demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities, breaking the glass ceiling in various sectors worldwide.

The Evolution of Women in Leadership

The evolution of women in leadership is a testament to the relentless pursuit of equality and the dismantling of patriarchal norms. Historically, women were sidelined to domestic roles, but the rise of feminist movements and societal evolution has seen more women ascending to leadership positions. Today, women are leading nations, corporations, and social movements, proving that leadership is not a gender-specific trait.

Challenges Faced by Women Leaders

Despite the progress, women leaders continue to face unique challenges. Stereotypes and biases persist, often resulting in a credibility gap for women leaders. The ‘double bind’ dilemma is another challenge, where women leaders are perceived as either too soft or too hard. The balance between personal life and career is another significant hurdle, with societal expectations often demanding more from women leaders.

The Leadership Style of Women

Women leaders often exhibit transformational leadership styles, focusing on collaboration, empathy, and communication. They tend to encourage participation, share power and information, and aim to enhance the self-worth of their followers. This style of leadership fosters a positive work environment and boosts productivity and job satisfaction.

Impact of Women in Leadership

The impact of women in leadership roles is profound and far-reaching. Studies show companies with women in top management roles experience better financial performance. Women leaders often prioritize social issues and sustainability, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society. They also serve as role models, inspiring future generations of women leaders.

The journey of women in leadership is a testament to resilience and strength. Despite numerous challenges, women have emerged as effective leaders, making significant contributions to their fields. However, the journey towards gender equality in leadership is far from over. It requires continuous efforts to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments that foster diversity and inclusion. As society progresses, the hope is that leadership will no longer be viewed through the lens of gender, but rather through the lens of capability and effectiveness.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Is Leadership Inherent or Learned
Essay on Leadership for Students
Essay on Importance of Human Values

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

159 Leadership Essay Topics & Ideas

Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
Icon Page 1401 words
Icon Clock 7 min read

Leadership essay topics cover a broad range of themes, exploring the various dimensions of leadership. They prompt critical thinking about the attributes, styles, and impacts of effective leaders. Some topics may range from analyzing historical figures’ leadership styles and discussing the role of ethical leadership in contemporary society to exploring transformational leadership in the corporate world. Other themes may consider the impact of leadership in crisis situations or the intricacies of team leadership in sports. Some ideas may include the evolution of leadership theories and how they have shaped modern practices. Additionally, one may discuss the gender dynamics in leadership or the role of emotional intelligence in effective leadership. As a result, leadership essay topics provide a good platform to examine leadership in all its complexity, fostering a comprehensive understanding of what it means to lead, the challenges faced, and the potential impacts that leaders have on their followers and broader society.

Easy Leadership Essay Topics

Exploring Leadership Traits in Personal Life
Understanding Situational Leadership
How Do Leaders Influence Team Morale?
Appreciating the Value of Leadership in School
Leadership in Sports: A Beginner’s Perspective
Types of Leadership: A Simple Overview
Famous Leaders and Their Leadership Styles
Influence of Leadership on Career Success
Distinguishing Between Leadership and Management
Qualities of Good Leadership: An Exploration
Why Is Leadership Important: A Novice’s View
Analyzing Leadership in a Favorite Book or Film
Leadership Lessons From Famous Historical Figures
Personal Leadership Development Plan: A Preliminary Approach
Leadership in Volunteering: A Personal Experience
Leadership’s Influence on Organizational Culture
Effective Communication in Leadership
Importance of Leadership in a Successful Business
Leadership and Decision-Making Process
Youth Leadership: Why It Matters?

Interesting Leadership Essay Topics

Transformational Leadership: An In-Depth Look
Unraveling the Mysteries of Charismatic Leadership
Unconventional Leadership Styles in Modern Businesses
Analyzing Leadership Through Game Theory
Leadership Lessons From Unexpected Sources
Digging Into the Core of Servant Leadership
Neuroscience Behind Effective Leadership
Influence of Leadership on Employee Engagement
Leadership Styles Around the World
Deconstructing Leadership in the Art World
AI and Leadership: An Unforeseen Connection
Environmental Leadership in the Fight Against Climate Change
Leadership Through the Lens of Philosophy
Unorthodox Leadership Lessons From Stand-Up Comedy
Crisis Leadership: Tackling Difficult Situations
Leadership in the Animal Kingdom: Lessons to Learn
Exploring Leadership in Extreme Environments
Leadership Dynamics in Non-Profit Organizations
Analyzing Leadership in Post-Apocalyptic Literature

Leadership Essay Topics

Leadership and Vision: Case Study of Elon Musk at SpaceX
Jeff Bezos’s Leadership: Shaping Amazon’s Organizational Culture
Servant Leadership in Action: Case Study of Tony Hsieh at Zappos
Analyzing Leadership Strategies: Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook
Richard Branson’s Leadership Style: A Key Factor in Virgin Group’s Success
Satya Nadella’s Leadership: Transformation of Microsoft’s Corporate Culture
Transformational Leadership: Case Study of Indra Nooyi at PepsiCo
Understanding Leadership Through Crisis: Case Study of Mary Barra at General Motors
Howard Schultz’s Leadership: Driving Starbucks’ Success
Leadership and Vision: Case Study of Larry Page at Google
Apple’s Success Under Tim Cook’s Leadership: A Case Analysis
Leadership in Crisis: Bob Iger’s Turnaround of Disney
Sundar Pichai’s Leadership Style: Google’s Continuous Innovation
Leadership and Gender: Case Study of Marillyn Hewson at Lockheed Martin
Visionary Leadership: Case Study of Masayoshi Son at SoftBank
Leadership Styles in Sports: Case Study of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United
Change Management: Case Study of Alan Mulally at Ford Motor Company
Transformational Leadership: Case Study of Jack Ma at Alibaba
Organizational Turnaround: Leadership Strategies of Lou Gerstner at IBM
Sheryl Sandberg’s Leadership Style: Encouraging Diversity at Facebook
Decoding the Leadership Style of Tesla’s Elon Musk
Innovation and Leadership: Reed Hastings at Netflix
Authentic Leadership: Oprah Winfrey’s Influence on the Media Industry
The People-First Approach: Case Study of Richard Liu at JD.com
Leadership and Business Acumen: Warren Buffet at Berkshire Hathaway
Reviving a Brand: Leadership Lessons From Steve Jobs at Apple
Leadership and Resilience: Case Study of Brian Chesky at Airbnb
Leadership in the Non-Profit Sector: Case Study of Melinda Gates at the Gates Foundation
Ethical Leadership: The Case of Howard Schultz at Starbucks
The Role of Servant Leadership in Herb Kelleher’s Success at Southwest Airlines
Leadership and Change: Case Study of Satya Nadella at Microsoft
Leadership Style and Business Success: Case Study of Larry Ellison at Oracle
Innovation Leadership: The Case of Susan Wojcicki at YouTube
Visionary Leadership: Case Study of Mukesh Ambani at Reliance Industries
Analyzing the Leadership Strategies of Andrew Carnegie
Jack Welch’s Leadership at General Electric: A Case Study
Leadership Lessons From Bill Gates’ Tenure at Microsoft
Effective Leadership: Case Study of Ray Kroc at McDonald’s
The Impact of Walt Disney’s Leadership on the Disney Corporation
Leadership Under Crisis: Case Study of Jamie Dimon at JPMorgan Chase
Comparative Analysis of Leadership Practices in Different Civilizations
Confluence of Leadership Theories and Quantum Physics
Epigenetics: Can Leadership Qualities Be Inherited?
Conceptual Intersection of Leadership and Chaos Theory
Incorporating Leadership Development Into Higher Education Curriculum
Eco-Leadership: Sustainable Management in the Era of Climate Change
Analyzing Ancient Tribal Leadership Strategies in Modern Corporate Management
Transpersonal Leadership: Merging Psychology, Spirituality, and Business
Political Leadership in Post-Truth Era: A Critical Examination
Decoding the Complex Relationship Between Leadership and Power Dynamics
Investigating the Effect of Leadership Styles on Organizational Resilience
Explicating the Role of Ethical Leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility
Analyze Leadership Through the Lens of Anthropological Studies
The Influence of Military Strategies on Corporate Leadership Practices
Exploring Leadership Styles in Multidisciplinary Research Teams
Dialectics of Leadership and Followership in Democratic Societies
Lattice Leadership: Disrupting Hierarchical Structures in Modern Enterprises
Probing the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Innovation Ecosystems
An In-Depth Study on Leadership in Virtual and Augmented Reality Environments
Deciphering the Paradoxes of Leadership in the Digital Age
Transformational Leadership: Unveiling the Effect on Organizational Success
Analyzing Autocratic Leadership: Its Potential in Crisis Management
Charismatic Leadership: Influence on Employee Motivation
Transactional Leadership Versus Transformational Leadership: An Analytical Comparison
Laissez-Faire Leadership: How it Shapes Creativity and Innovation in Organizations
Exploring Servant Leadership: Understanding Its Influence on Organizational Culture
Leadership Styles in Different Cultures: A Comparative Study
Women in Leadership: Assessing Progress and Challenges in the 21st Century
Leadership During Times of Change: Strategies for Successful Transition
Leadership and Emotional Intelligence: Interplay and Influence on Team Performance
Ethics in Leadership: Exploring Its Effect on Organizational Trust
Leadership Development Programs: Their Efficacy in Shaping Future Leaders
Analyzing the Intersection of Leadership and Organizational Strategy
Adaptive Leadership in Fast-Paced Industries: Key Strategies and Outcomes
Youth Leadership: Exploring Its Significance in Society
Leadership in Non-profit Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities
Understanding Leadership in Virtual Teams: Key Approaches and Challenges
Military Leadership Principles and Their Applicability in Corporate Settings
Leadership Communication: Its Effect on Team Dynamics and Cohesion
Leadership in Healthcare: Unique Challenges and Strategies
Analyzing the Interplay Between Leadership and Employee Engagement
Leadership in Academia: A Case Study Approach
Leadership Succession Planning: Best Practices and Outcomes
Leadership in Startups: Exploring Strategies for Success
Leadership and Decision-Making: An Analysis of Approaches
Cross-Cultural Leadership: Navigating Global Business Environments
Leadership and Organizational Performance: Investigating the Correlation
Analyzing Leadership Failures: Lessons for Future Leaders
Educational Leadership: Approaches in Modern Pedagogy
Leadership in High-Risk Industries: Case Studies in Decision-Making and Safety
Analyzing Leadership in the Tech Industry: Case Studies of Successful Leaders
Leadership Under Stress: Strategies for Maintaining Composure and Decision-Making
Public Sector Leadership: Challenges and Opportunities
Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility: Understanding the Interplay
Leadership and Change Resistance: Strategies for Overcoming Employee Pushback
Analyzing Leadership Dynamics in Family Businesses
Leadership Burnout: Understanding Causes and Prevention Strategies
Leadership and Knowledge Management: Unpacking the Connection
Leadership Styles in Entrepreneurial Ventures: Investigating Success Factors
Analyzing Leadership in Crisis: A Study of Pandemic Responses

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

447 Position Paper Topics & Essay Ideas

Icon Calendar 29 July 2023
Icon Page 3659 words

392 Entertaining Speech Topics & Ideas

Icon Calendar 27 July 2023
Icon Page 3512 words

Having women in leadership roles is more important than ever, here's why

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Minister of Education Li Andersson, Minister of Finance Katri Kulmuni and Minister of Interior Maria Ohisalo pose after the first meeting of the new government in Helsinki, Finland December 10, 2019. Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. NOT FOR USE BY REUTERS THIRD PARTY DISTRIBUTORS. FINLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN FINLAND. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC2ESD9UKQOM

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin (second from right), Minister of Education Li Andersson, Minister of Finance Katri Kulmuni and Minister of Interior Maria Ohisalo Image: REUTERS

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Leanne Kemp

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} Education, Gender and Work is affecting economies, industries and global issues

A hand holding a looking glass by a lake

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Stay up to date:, education, gender and work.

Since 2015 the number of women in senior leadership in business has grown and diversity in leadership is good for business;
Beyond business, female leaders from across generations are working together to find new solutions to the world's biggest problems;
The tech sector must attract more women to unlock the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and ensure technology is developed from a balanced perspective.

In an ideal world, it shouldn’t matter whether there’s a woman running the IMF, Microsoft or the Democratic Party. Does an SME owner or tech start-up care that it’s a woman who makes finance more accessible? If a miner, factory worker or fisherman gets a better share of the profits and can send his or her children to school, are they bothered that a woman made it possible?

Bush fires, burst riverbanks, melting icecaps, fatbergs, plastic islands and species extinction: none of these considers the sex of the perpetrators or decision-makers. Yet, encouraging more women into leadership positions remains critical in our era and given the fast-approaching challenges of the future.

Have you read?

5 ways to break down the barriers for women to access leadership roles, these are the best countries for women to work in, a woman would have to be born in the year 2255 to get equal pay at work.

The overall number of women in top business roles is still painfully low – only 5% of CEOs of major corporations in the US are women – but there are reasons for optimism. Since 2015 the number of women in senior leadership has grown, particularly in the C-suite where the representation of women has increased from 17% to 21% . Today, 44% of companies have three or more women in their C-suite, up from 29% of companies in 2015. Corporate America scores much lower than France or Norway, where businesses average more than 40% female representation on a board of directors .

Diversity in leadership is good for business. For example, a Harvard Business School report on the male-dominated venture capital industry found that “the more similar the investment partners, the lower their investments’ performance”. In fact, firms that increased their proportion of female partner hires by 10% saw, on average, a 1.5% spike in overall fund returns each year and had 9.7% more profitable exits.

How many women are on boards of directors?

Evolving job needs are empowering women and levelling the playing field. The new service economy doesn’t rely on physical strength but skills that come easily to women, such as determination, attention to detail and measured thinking. The female brain is naturally wired for long-term strategic vision and community building.

The emergence of female leaders can become a centrifugal force for good in the world. For the first time, we’re seeing examples of female leaders emerging from across the generations to cross-weave their knowledge and drive for change. If we take the environment and climate as an example, someone as experienced and respected as Jane Goodall is standing alongside teenage activists like Greta Thunberg. Importantly, there are now ambitious and capable women running influential organizations who can activate physical change through technology and policy. The recent progress with the circular economy and blockchain is a prime example.

There’s nothing inherently masculine about blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning; computers are androgynous by nature. That said, the tech sector remains heavily dominated by men. According to the World Economic Forum , the greatest challenge preventing the economic gender gap from closing is women’s under-representation in emerging roles. In cloud computing, just 12% of professionals are women; in engineering and Data and AI, the numbers are 15% and 26% respectively. Unless the sector can balance the ledger by making roles attractive to women, then we risk missing out on the full potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Organizations need to ensure there are sufficient rungs on the ladder to help women climb into management positions. We need to be open-minded enough to bring in female leaders from other industries, who don’t have a tech background. We need to work closely with schools and universities to win the argument that tech isn’t just a male career path. Technology also has a role to play – and responsibility – in promoting diversity in the workplace, given its ability to change working relationships, encourage transparency and connect people around the world. In a period of constant flux, organizations that prioritize a diverse and inclusive culture will be better placed to solve the problems of the future.

Research by Deloitte suggests companies with an inclusive culture are six times more likely to be innovative. By staying ahead of changes, they are twice as likely to hit or better financial targets. This means providing female mentors and role models, demonstrating trust (rather than talking about it), creating an environment that encourages collaboration, using technology to break barriers and sourcing innovation openly.

Women can lead our sector forward too. Now that technology is all-pervasive, the traditional sector lines have become blurred. Brands that cling to the old structures will find themselves overtaken and left behind. This is when women’s ability to empathize and seek compromise becomes a powerful asset. If technology is supposed to service the whole of humanity, the big decisions need to be taken from a balanced perspective.

More women are now being elected to legislatures across the world: women hold 25.2% of parliamentary lower-house seats and 21.2% of ministerial positions, compared to 24.1% and 19% respectively last year. While there is a long way to go, improving political empowerment for women typically corresponds with increased numbers of women in senior roles in the labour market.

In my own Queensland, a women-led government is taking big steps forward on behalf of the state economy. They’ve shown a real desire to listen to experts in the wider world of business. We’re seeing women from other fields, such as ex-Olympic athletes, joining the political arena. Yet, for those countries and political parties – and corporations for that matter – which have never appointed a woman to the top position, the suspicion that the system isn’t fair and that the glass ceilings are unbreakable grows with every election.

The survival of the planet requires new thinking and strategies. We are in a pitched battle between the present array of resources and attitudes and the future struggling to be born. Women get it; young people get it. They are creating a whole different mindset.

Ultimately, the problems we face are not technological, but human – the human system is broken. People should always be appointed on merit and the electorate must decide, but more still needs to be done to give all women the best possible chance of rising to the top. If that happens, then I’ll be the first to say that who’s in charge doesn’t matter a jot.

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

.chakra .wef-1dtnjt5{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;} More on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion .chakra .wef-17xejub{-webkit-flex:1;-ms-flex:1;flex:1;justify-self:stretch;-webkit-align-self:stretch;-ms-flex-item-align:stretch;align-self:stretch;} .chakra .wef-nr1rr4{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;white-space:normal;vertical-align:middle;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:0.75rem;border-radius:0.25rem;font-weight:700;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;line-height:1.2;-webkit-letter-spacing:1.25px;-moz-letter-spacing:1.25px;-ms-letter-spacing:1.25px;letter-spacing:1.25px;background:none;padding:0px;color:#B3B3B3;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;}@media screen and (min-width:37.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:0.875rem;}}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-nr1rr4{font-size:1rem;}} See all

What is the informal economy and how many people work in it?

Simon Torkington

June 4, 2024

Pay transparency and pay gap reporting may be rising but how effective are they?

Tom Heys and Emanuela Nespoli

May 29, 2024

How focused giving can unlock billions and catapult women’s wealth

Mark Muckerheide

May 21, 2024

Progress for women in the workplace stagnating in four key areas, global study reveals

The care economy is one of humanity's most valuable assets. Here's how we secure its future

This is how AI can empower women and achieve gender equality, according to the founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First

Kate Whiting

May 14, 2024

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

Essay Database >
Essays Examples >
Essay Topics

Essays on Female Leadership

2 samples on this topic

The array of written assignments you might be tasked with while studying Female Leadership is stunning. If some are too confusing, an expertly crafted sample Female Leadership piece on a related topic might lead you out of a dead end. This is when you will definitely recognize WowEssays.com ever-widening database of Female Leadership essay samples meant to ignite your writing enthusiasm.

Our directory of free college paper samples showcases the most bright instances of top-notch writing on Female Leadership and relevant topics. Not only can they help you develop an interesting and fresh topic, but also display the effective use of the best Female Leadership writing practices and content structuring techniques. Also, keep in mind that you can use them as a source of reliable sources and factual or statistical information processed by real masters of their craft with solid academic backgrounds in the Female Leadership area.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of effective write my essay assistance, when our experts provide a unique model essay on Female Leadership tailored to your personal instructions!

Female Leaders Essays

Discrimination of ethnic minority leaders and female leaders in leadership positions, popular essay topics.

American Dream
Artificial Intelligence
Black Lives Matter
Bullying Essay
Career Goals Essay
Causes of the Civil War
Child Abusing
Civil Rights Movement
Community Service
Cultural Identity
Cyber Bullying
Death Penalty
Depression Essay
Domestic Violence
Freedom of Speech
Global Warming
Gun Control
Human Trafficking
I Believe Essay
Immigration
Importance of Education
Israel and Palestine Conflict
Leadership Essay
Legalizing Marijuanas
Mental Health
National Honor Society
Police Brutality
Pollution Essay
Racism Essay
Romeo and Juliet
Same Sex Marriages
Social Media
The Great Gatsby
The Yellow Wallpaper
Time Management
To Kill a Mockingbird
Violent Video Games
What Makes You Unique
Why I Want to Be a Nurse
Send us an e-mail

How Ineffective Leadership Impacts Women in Tech (And Strategies for Change)

The tech industry has made notable strides towards inclusivity and diversity, with women achieving significant milestones in technical and leadership roles. However, the pace of change remains uneven, primarily due to the varying quality of leadership within the sector.

Effective leadership is characterized by the ability to inspire, innovate, and inclusively support employee growth, while ineffective and toxic leadership often fails to address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in tech.

According to our 2024 Women in Tech Report , a substantial number of women are considering leaving their current employers due to leadership-related issues.

What does this mean? There’s an urgent need for a leadership approach that prioritizes communication, emotional intelligence, and active listening to facilitate a more inclusive and supportive workplace.

Ineffective Leadership = Increased Employee Turnover

Ineffective leadership within the tech sector not only undermines the potential of women in technology but also poses significant risks to the industry’s innovation and business landscape, especially in a competitive landscape that continues to evolve and change at a rapid pace.

The tech industry continues to struggle with leadership practices that fail to retain and empower women. Survey findings from our Women in Tech Report reveal that 37% of women in tech are considering switching job roles, and 31% are contemplating changing employers within the next year – given the challenges present in the work environment, these statistics are highly concerning, but sadly, not surprising.

Unlike last year’s report , in which the main motivations for seeking new opportunities were better compensation (41%), a lack of equity in opportunities (36%), and ineffective leadership (25%), this year’s findings reveal that the primary issue is with department or company management.

This concern is closely followed by a lack of training, growth, and development opportunities (39%), and the desire for increased compensation (26%).

For women in tech, there is an undeniable trend where the quality of leadership and professional growth is overtaking financial incentives and compensation as a driver for women thinking about making a career change.

Competitive salaries remain important, but women’s working environments and the opportunities afforded for professional advancement and development play a significant role in job satisfaction and career decision-making.

This trend emphasizes the need for companies to reassess their approaches to leadership, inclusion, belonging, and professional development to attract and retain top talent.

Subscribe to the Skillsoft Blog

We will email when we make a new post in your interest area.

Select which topics to subscribe to:

Thanks for signing up!

Barriers for women pursuing tech careers.

When exploring the challenges women in tech face when pursuing tech careers, ineffective leadership and management emerged as a top concern for 46% of women in tech. A lack of equity in pay (38%) and opportunities (35%) are also significant issues.

With this, it’s imperative for companies to acknowledge and address the impact of ineffective leadership on women in tech:

Career Progression Barriers: Ineffective leadership significantly limits career advancement opportunities for women in tech, and especially women of color. Common hurdles include a lack of mentorship, biased performance evaluations, and inadequate support for career development. These barriers not only impede women’s professional growth but also contribute to the broader issue of underrepresentation in tech leadership roles.
Gender Bias and Stereotyping: Leadership that does not actively combat gender biases and stereotypes perpetuates a workplace culture that marginalizes women. This manifests in women being undervalued and/or overlooked for promotions or critical projects, despite their expertise and capabilities making them highly competitive candidates for career-enhancing opportunities.
Work Environment and Culture: Creating an inclusive work environment is critical for retention and job satisfaction. Leadership that fails to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging often promotes and perpetuates a culture in which women’s job satisfaction is negatively affected.

Identifying Toxic Leadership Must Be a Priority

Identifying toxic leadership in your organization is not always easy or straightforward; its traits can often be subtle, insidious, and deeply ingrained in organizational culture. However, recognizing it and rooting it out must be a strategic imperative.

Toxic leadership can manifest in many ways – managers and leaders who lack empathy and emotional intelligence, promote an environment of distrust, reward unhealthy competition and undermining, or even more overt signs such as bullying and intimidation are all examples of toxic leadership that exert a toll on workplace contentment, and more often than not, mental health.

Leadership practices that genuinely support and advance women’s careers in technology benefit everyone, not just women. The presence of toxic leadership styles that often go unnoticed or unaddressed exacerbate the leadership gap, making it alarmingly clear why systemic change is necessary.

The Ripple Effect

Ineffective leadership impacts not only women in technology but also carries significant repercussions for companies and the broader industry.

Innovation and Productivity: Leadership quality is a critical determinant of team morale, creativity, and productivity. When leadership practices are inclusive, diverse perspectives pave the way for innovative solutions and improved team performance and morale. Conversely, leadership that fails to harness diversity may stifle creativity and hinder overall productivity.
Retention and Turnover Rates: Many women are actively looking for a new job in search of better leadership and more inclusive work cultures. This not only depletes an organization of its valuable human resources but also incurs significant costs related to recruitment, training, and lost productivity.
Company Reputation and Brand Image: The effects of leadership practices extend beyond internal operations to influence a company’s external reputation. Experiences of inequity and poor management can quickly become public, potentially damaging the company's branding and reputation, thereby making those companies less attractive to prospective employees. A reputation for fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment, on the other hand, can enhance a company's standing in the industry, attracting top talent and customer loyalty alike.
Financial Performance: According to McKinsey research , companies with greater representation are more likely to outperform their less diverse counterparts. This advantage manifests through diverse leadership teams that are better equipped to understand and serve a multifaceted customer base, which may lead to greater market share and financial returns. In fact, a study from Calvert , a unit of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, found that more diversity on corporate boards at large companies in the U.S. resulted in higher stock prices over time when compared with companies with less diverse boards.

The implications of ineffective leadership are far-reaching, impacting not just individual careers but shaping the future of the tech industry. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to transform leadership practices at every level of the organization.

Strategies for Turning Toxic Leadership Into Top-Notch Leadership

Organizations must face toxic leadership head-on. Let’s look at a few actionable strategies that can uplift women in tech:

Leadership Training and Development: Investing in leadership training that focuses on emotional intelligence, active listening, and inclusivity can help create an environment where women in tech can thrive.

It should come as no surprise that even within the realm of technology, the top three skills or qualities reported “most important for tech leaders in the workplace” are team communication, emotional intelligence , and active listening – with technical skills and project management closely behind.

See Skillsoft’s Leadership & Business solutions.

Policy and Cultural Shifts: Women who participated in the survey said the main way organizations could support them is by guaranteeing equitable pay. Implementing organizational changes, such as transparent promotion criteria and equal pay policies, is crucial in fostering a culture that embraces and promotes the career advancement of women.
Executive Sponsorship and Mentorship: Mentoring programs, networking opportunities, and sponsorship are critical elements for empowering women, helping to overcome challenges and barriers posed by ineffective leadership.

When asked about actions organizations could take to encourage more women to pursue tech related careers, providing more coaching, mentoring, and career counseling opportunities (37%), along with offering professional development and training opportunities (36%), were top of mind.

Organizations across the board must adopt and implement strategies that not only promote but also sustain leadership qualities that can drive innovation and growth. After all, effective leadership is not just beneficial for women, it's crucial for the sustainability and success of the tech industry.

To learn more about the current state of women in tech, what’s important to them, and what they need from their employers to thrive, access our full report here .

The 11 Most Popular CompTIA Certifications (And What They Pay)

Skillsoft + Skills Builder Partnership – Building the Essential Power Skills to Succeed

The Impact of AI on Women (And What to Do About It)

Subscribe to Blog

share this!

May 28, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

trusted source

'Lean in' messages can lower women's motivation to protest gender inequality

by University of Exeter

Women in leadership are often told to "Lean In," designed to be motivational messaging demonstrating that they are more confident, strategic and resilient to setback. However, new research indicates that such "lean in" messaging can hinder women's motivation to protest gender equality.

Popularized in a book by American technology executive Sherly Sandberg, the "Lean In" solution to gender inequality advises women that demonstrating personal resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks is key to career advancement.

Now, a new study led by the University of Exeter, Bath Spa University and the Australian National University has found that while such messages may provide inspiration for some, they can also reduce women's likelihood to protest gender discrimination. This effect could actually be hindering gender equality progress.

Published in Psychology of Women Quarterly , the study involved four experiments, Researchers examined women's motivation to protest gender inequality after exposure to "Lean In" messages promoting individual resilience.

All the experiments were in the UK and involved more than 1,100 women who were either undergraduate students or employed women with university degrees. Women read about gender inequality, and then either read about resilience as key to promoting advancement (in line with "lean in" messaging), or participated in activities to build their own resilience by learning how to set flexible goals and maintain confidence.

The research found:

In three of four experiments, women in "Lean In" conditions were less willing to be part of protest action over gender inequality compared to those in a control condition who were not exposed to "Lean In" messages.
In two of the experiments, this effect occurred because women in "Lean In" conditions were less likely to believe that gender discrimination would affect their career prospects.
In one, this effect occurred because women in "Lean In" conditions also felt less angry about ongoing gender inequality.

Authors say the findings of this research highlight an unintended consequence of "Lean In" messages and related individual resilience training for women that is offered as a remedy for gender inequality in the workplace—that it can undermine women's recognition of, and willingness to protest about, the root causes of gender inequality: discrimination.

Lead author, Dr. Renata Bongiorno, who conducted the studies while at the University of Exeter and is now Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Bath Spa University, said, "The popularity of the 'Lean In' movement speaks to the challenges women continue to face due to gender discrimination in the workplace.

"Women are understandably looking for ways to advance their careers despite the disproportionate setbacks they continue to experience compared to men.

"While the 'Lean In' solution offered by Sheryl Sandberg can feel empowering, a lack of individual resilience or perseverance is not the cause of women's poorer career progress.

"The messages lead to women assuming that gender discrimination will be less of a barrier to their career advancement. This false belief is concerning for progress because it is reducing women's willingness to protest the real causes of gender inequality.

"Progress and gains for women have historically been achieved through collective protest over gender discriminatory practices and policies, including pregnancy discrimination, a lack of affordable childcare, and workplace sexual harassment.

"Finding ways to effectively challenge these ongoing barriers should be a focus for feminism because they are the real causes of gender inequality in career outcomes."

Journal information: Psychology of Women Quarterly

Provided by University of Exeter

Explore further

Feedback to editors

A novel spray device helps researchers capture fast-moving cell processes

6 hours ago

Tropical forests adjust strategies to thrive even when soils are nutrient poor, large field experiment shows

Boeing's astronaut capsule arrives at the space station after thruster trouble

7 hours ago

New material records mechanical stress through luminescence

Computer model demonstrates desire for social proximity improves flight routes among pigeons

Schooling fish expend less energy in turbulent water compared to solitary swimmers, study finds

JWST discovers large variety of carbon-rich gases that serve as ingredients for future planets around very low-mass star

Scientists develop fatigue-free ferroelectric material

Fish out of water: How killifish embryos adapt their development

The first example of cellular origami discovered in protist

Relevant physicsforums posts, today's fusion music: t square, cassiopeia, rei & kanade sato.

4 hours ago

Another Word I Got Wrong : Vile

Bach, bach, and more bach please.

13 hours ago

What's The Opposite Of Subtlety?

Jun 5, 2024

Most Underrated Rock Drummer?

Cover songs versus the original track, which ones are better.

Jun 4, 2024

More from Art, Music, History, and Linguistics

Gender discrimination may be making parts of the female brain thinner

May 9, 2023

Perceived gender discrimination linked to decline in well-being for older women

Mar 20, 2024

More gender segregation in jobs means more harassment, lower pay

May 12, 2022

Gender inequality can predict high rates of child physical abuse

Oct 5, 2022

Gender pay progress stalls on 'motherhood penalty': study

Mar 7, 2023

What is gender equality in science? Common solutions may not be solving the problem

Mar 27, 2019

Recommended for you

Study finds we spend more with cashless payments

8 hours ago

Study shows banning false information traffickers online can improve public discourse

Study finds US Islamist extremist co-offenders form close-knit groups driven by mutual contacts, homophily effects

Study finds simple headlines attract more online news readers

Others' words, not firsthand experience, shape scientific and religious belief formation, study finds

How can we make good decisions by observing others? A videogame and computational model have the answer

Let us know if there is a problem with our content.

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter

Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Army — Army Leadership: Principles and Practices in Modern Military Contexts

Army Leadership: Principles and Practices in Modern Military Contexts

Categories: Army Leadership

About this sample

Words: 943 |

Published: Jun 6, 2024

Words: 943 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Principles of army leadership, qualities of effective army leaders, impact of leadership on military success and cohesion.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

Expert in: Government & Politics Business

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 732 words

2 pages / 1119 words

6 pages / 2883 words

1 pages / 537 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Army

The importance of being on time in the Army is a part of discipline, which was instilled in new enlisted soldiers during their basic training. Being on time shows reliability. We have to show [...]

Questia. (n.d.). Transforming Leader Development through Lifelong Learning. Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-411111911/transforming-leader-development-through-lifelong-learning

Leadership in the army is a critical component of the success of military operations. The army operates in high-stress, high-stakes environments where the decisions made by leaders can have life or death consequences. In order [...]

Accountability is one of the key factors in any organization that is presentable, successful and dependable. Without proper accountability time is often spent inefficiently and the mission is often either delayed or unachieved. [...]

Professionalism is something that is extremely important for any job a person may have, yet it comes into play even more so with the military. War is something that requires a large amount of discipline, respect, and commitment. [...]

Leader Development is an important attribute that makes the Army function properly. Leader Development keeps your leadership sharp in a constantly changing organization. Leader Development is not just for your Team Leaders and [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Want To Get Into The Ivy League? Here’s How Long The Application Process Really Takes

Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter
Share to Linkedin

One of the main gates on the Brown University campus, decorated with the University crest. (Photo by ... [+] Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images)

While the college admissions process begins in earnest during a student’s junior year of high school, a standout college admissions profile is the result of years of strategic and intentional planning. This is especially true for students with Ivy League dreams—joining the ranks of students at Yale, Princeton, and Harvard requires time, dedication, and consideration long before students start their applications. Even the most talented, qualified students underestimate the amount of time that goes into planning for and completing the application process. Starting early and planning ahead are crucial for crafting stand-out Ivy League applications.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how much time you should realistically expect to invest in the Ivy League admissions process, from start to finish:

Developing Your Hook: 4 Years

A “ hook ” is the element of a student’s profile that “hooks” the attention of admissions officers—it is the X factor that distinguishes a student from thousands of other applicants. It should be the anchoring interest around which all other elements of an application coalesce. Developing this defining passion requires time and dedication, so the earlier a student starts intentionally exploring their interests to develop this hook, the better. Beginning in freshman year, students should explore activities, courses, and volunteer opportunities in their schools and communities, thoughtfully weighing what they most enjoy as they do so. Over the next few years, students should hone their hook through continued involvement in extracurricular or volunteer opportunities that align with their guiding interests, seeking leadership opportunities when applicable.

Building an Independent Project: 2 years

One of the most effective ways to showcase a hook is through an independent passion project. Sophomore, junior or fall of senior year, students should craft an initiative that uses their passions to better their communities, as this will demonstrate self-motivation, genuine passion, and leadership acumen to Ivy League and other top colleges. Their project could take the shape of scientific research, a nonprofit, a community initiative, or a startup business. Students should spend a few months brainstorming, planning, and setting clear goals before entering the implementation stage. They should be sure to document their progress meticulously as they overcome hurdles and meet their goals, as this will enable them to relay their successes clearly and specifically on their applications in the future.

Researching Colleges & Structuring College List: 6 months–1 year

During their junior year, students should consult a variety of resources and rankings and begin to develop their college lists. As they do so, they should keep in mind that every ranking system takes unique factors into account—for instance, while U.S. News and World Report focuses on metrics related to academic quality such as academic reputation and graduation rates, Forbes is heavily focused on financial metrics , considering ROI, average debt, and alumni salary. In addition to weighing schools’ rankings, students should also seek to balance their college lists by comparing their academic standing with the academic profile of admitted students. If a student’s GPA and test scores fall within the middle 50% of admitted students, the school is a match; if they are above the 75th percentile, that school is likely a safety, and if their scores are below the 25th percentile, the school is a reach.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro To Boast Record Breaking Design Leak Claims

Samsung issues critical update for millions of galaxy users, biden vs trump 2024 election polls trump loses support after conviction latest survey shows.

Studying & Taking Standardized Tests: 6 months–1.5 years

Typically, students will have completed the mathematics coursework needed to take the SAT and ACT by the spring of their sophomore year and should sit for diagnostic ACT and SAT tests around that time. Once they receive their diagnostic scores, students should create a study plan that will enable them to reach their goal score, which should be set relative to their college aspirations; students with Ivy League dreams should aim to earn a 34+ on the ACT or a 1550+ on the SAT. The amount of time needed to prepare for and ace standardized tests often varies greatly depending on students’ diagnostic scores, goal scores, and how much time and effort they devote to studying.

Writing Essays & Assembling Applications: 6 months

Finally, completing the actual application is perhaps the shortest stage of the process—though it is the most important. Students who have dedicated time and effort to building their applicant profiles throughout their high school careers will reap the benefits of their long term planning; they will be able to approach the process with a clear understanding of the unique story they wish to convey through their application components. Students should kickstart the process in the spring of their junior year by requesting recommendations from their teachers, school counselors, and other non-academic mentors. The summer before senior year is a critical time to work on the personal statement, which tends to be one of the most time consuming elements of the application process as it requires lengthy brainstorming, drafting, and editing. Supplemental essay prompts for specific schools are generally released in August, so students should plan to devote the remainder of their summer and fall to completing those essays. Finally, with focus and dedication, students can complete the activities list in one to two weeks, but they should devote concerted attention to the activities list like all the other elements of their application and be sure not to save it until the last minute.

While every student is different and will need to assemble their own timeline, the college admissions process is a demanding one—particularly for students determined to gain admission to the most elite universities in the country. Students should begin preparing early in order to give themselves some leeway and submit applications that they are truly proud of.

Editorial Standards
Reprints & Permissions

IMAGES

Essay About Women Leadership
Writing an Effective Leadership Essay: Tips and Examples
Women and Leadership Essay Example
⇉Female Leadership Essay Essay Example
Leadership Scholarship For Women
Women in Leadership Research Paper 2015

VIDEO

Leadership Essay Response
Female Leadership
Chevening Scholarship
Challenges women face in the quest for leadership an leadership positions
Project Management and Project Leadership Framework
Essay on Leadership in English

COMMENTS

627 Leadership Essay Topics & Examples
To get more familiar with the subject of leadership, research various leadership styles, such as transformational, autocratic, and servant leadership. Tip 4. Pay attention to the structure. In a great essay, ideas are always well-organized and follow one another in a logical sequence.
Women leaders make work better. Here's the science behind how to
Women rank better than or equal to men in seven of eight traits relevant to leadership assessed in a 2008 national survey by the Pew Research Center. Half of the respondents ranked women as more honest than men, with 20% saying that men are more honest than women. In terms of intelligence, 38% said they viewed women as smarter, with only 14% ...
Keys to Success for Women Leaders
Together, these themes are a useful starting point for individual women to explore, and for organizations to consider as women's leadership topics to prioritize in their development initiatives and retention efforts. The 4 Keys to Success for Individual Women Leaders Women's Leadership Topics & Themes That Emerged From Our Research 1. Agency.
Women in leadership
Text preview of this essay: This page of the essay has 1,548 words. Download the full version above. 'Women in leadership' is a phenomena that has obtained many attention over the past couple of years. Nowadays more young woman graduate of Universities, yet the amount of female leader seems remarkable low (in 2012 only 16,6%).
PDF Women in Leadership: Why It Matters
to women leaders than others: Perceived barriers for women are larger in particular sectors, with a majority (62%) of Americans saying that women have fewer opportunities than men in corporate America to serve in leadership positions. Government (55%) and business (50%) also present difficulty for women to rise to leadership positions.
Women, Power & Leadership
Addressing the topic of women's leadership in terms of the obstacles we face makes sense, however, only if significant numbers of women are ambitious for top leadership. In an essay entitled "You've Come a Long Way, Baby-and You've Got Miles to Go," leadership scholar Barbara Kellerman asks us to consider the possibility that most ...
Women in Leadership: A Comparative Case Study on Successful Leadership
Women in Leadership 3 . 2. Abstract . The purpose of this report is to understand what makes a successful female leader. Since there are so few women in executive level positions, especially chief executive officer positions, I became interested in analyzing how successful leaders act in contrast with how unsuccessful leaders act.
Women Leadership Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines
The topic of leadership has been gaining tremendous attention of academic world and media (ass, Riggio, 2006, p. 17). Many experts have written about leadership and the challenges related to it as the subject is highly valued and at the same time a complex phenomenon (Northouse, 2009, p. 1).
Women Are Better Leaders Than Men: [Essay Example], 556 words
First and foremost, women have been shown to possess stronger emotional intelligence than men. According to a study conducted by the Harvard Business Review, women tend to score higher on measures of emotional intelligence, which is a crucial trait for effective leadership. Emotional intelligence allows leaders to empathize with their team ...
Women in Leadership
Essay Example: Introduction: Women in leadership is a vastly growing subject but has yet to become a dramatic reality. There are many harsh realities and criticisms surrounding women in positions of power. Some good and some bad, they consistently surround women and it's rare that these issues.
Women In Leadership Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines
4. The role of women in leadership positions within the church. 5. The challenges and opportunities of outreach and evangelism in a modern, secular society. 6. The church's response to climate change and environmental stewardship. 7. The intersection of religion and politics in contemporary society. 8.
Essay on Women in Leadership
The impact of women in leadership roles is profound and far-reaching. Studies show companies with women in top management roles experience better financial performance. Women leaders often prioritize social issues and sustainability, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society. They also serve as role models, inspiring future ...
15 Women Empowerment Topics to Talk About Today
10. Mental Health and Well-being. Women face unique challenges that can affect their mental health. Open discussions about mental health, self-care, and access to support resources are crucial for empowering women to prioritize their well-being. 11. Women's Land Ownership and Property Rights.
Essay about Women in Leadership Roles
2119 Words. 9 Pages. Open Document. INTRODUCTION More and more women are rising to the leadership challenge, even in some of the most male-dominated industries. The increase in the number of women attending college, the increasing number of women in the workplace or starting their own business has demonstrated to men who own businesses that ...
Aspects of Women's Leadership in the Organisation: Systematic
Women's Leadership is a topic that is growing every day, as more and more women are participating in leadership roles. Therefore, there is always scope to study the subject for further enhancement and development in the related field. ... Featuring essays by Simone De Beauvoir, Michele Le Doeuefe, Christine Delphy, Colette Guillaumine ...
159 Leadership Essay Topics & Ideas
159 Leadership Essay Topics & Ideas. Written by. Ava Stevens. 18 May 2024. 1401 words. 7 min read. Leadership essay topics cover a broad range of themes, exploring the various dimensions of leadership. They prompt critical thinking about the attributes, styles, and impacts of effective leaders.
Having women in leadership roles is more important than ever, here's
The overall number of women in top business roles is still painfully low - only 5% of CEOs of major corporations in the US are women - but there are reasons for optimism. Since 2015 the number of women in senior leadership has grown, particularly in the C-suite where the representation of women has increased from 17% to 21%.Today, 44% of companies have three or more women in their C-suite ...
Women Leadership Essay Examples
10 samples on this topic. On this site, we've put together a database of free paper samples regarding Women Leadership. The intention is to provide you with a sample close to your Women Leadership essay topic so that you could have a closer look at it in order to get a clear idea of what a top-notch academic work should look like.
Female Leadership Essay Examples
Get your free examples of research papers and essays on Female Leadership here. Only the A-papers by top-of-the-class students. Learn from the best! ... If some are too confusing, an expertly crafted sample Female Leadership piece on a related topic might lead you out of a dead end. This is when you will definitely recognize WowEssays.com ever ...
Female Leaders Essay Examples
Discrimination of Ethnic Minority Leaders and Female Leaders in Leadership Positions Leadership roles are critical in fostering an organization's growth and development. Leaders should be chosen solely on the basis of their talent, abilities, and experience in leading an organization.
Female Leadership
1. Abstract The theme/topic of thesis is: Female and Gender Leadership. The main issue or mater of thesis work is to make research of male and female leadership and management style. Investigate in order to be clear about male and female leadership starting from definition of it, and continue with data collection in order to prove it.
How Ineffective Leadership Impacts Women in Tech (And ...
When exploring the challenges women in tech face when pursuing tech careers, ineffective leadership and management emerged as a top concern for 46% of women in tech. A lack of equity in pay (38%) and opportunities (35%) are also significant issues. With this, it's imperative for companies to acknowledge and address the impact of ineffective ...
'Lean in' messages can lower women's motivation to protest gender
by University of Exeter. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain. Women in leadership are often told to "Lean In," designed to be motivational messaging demonstrating that they are more confident ...
Army Leadership: Principles and Practices in Modern ...
Impact of Leadership on Military Success and Cohesion. The impact of leadership on military success and unit cohesion cannot be overstated. Strong leadership directly influences the operational effectiveness of military units, as well as the well-being and motivation of soldiers.
Church Leadership and the Ministerial Exception
Footnotes Jump to essay-1 Kedroff v. St. Nicholas Cathedral of Russian Orthodox Church, 344 U.S. 94, 116 (1952) (Freedom to select the clergy, where no improper methods of choice are proven, we think, must now be said to have federal constitutional protection as a part of the free exercise of religion against state interference. Jump to essay-2 426 U.S. 696, 717-18 (1976).
Overview of the Nineteenth Amendment, Women's Suffrage
Jump to essay-4 See Amdt19.4 Impact of the Nineteenth Amendment Beyond the Supreme Court. Jump to essay-5 See Amdt19.2.1 Women's Suffrage from the Founding Era to the Civil War. Jump to essay-6 See id. Jump to essay-7 See id. Jump to essay-8 See Amdt19.2.2 The Reconstruction Amendments and Women's Suffrage. Jump to essay-9 See id.
Want To Get Into The Ivy League? Here's How Long The ...
Studying & Taking Standardized Tests: 6 months-1.5 years. Typically, students will have completed the mathematics coursework needed to take the SAT and ACT by the spring of their sophomore year ...
Policy Papers
The benefits of gender diversity are well known - it increases effectiveness and efficiency and strengthens decision-making. Yet, the IMF Executive Board continues to fall short of reaching gender balance, with women constituting a small minority of the Executive Directors and Alternate Executive Directors. There is a clear need for change. The IMFC has called on the membership to take ...