They simply must fine-tune existing skills, experts say. In a flattened organization, when you must get things done through people over whom you have no formal authority, you need a different kind of management skill, and women have it. Women managers also are praised for being more sensitive to employees and better at keeping others informed, coaching subordinates and getting results. Also valued is their ability to be a caring supervisor and still achieve goals. They see themselves as representing the interests of the people they lead.
Women fit that profile perfectly.
Strong leaders can persuade others to achieve their vision, are highly credible and maintain consistency and fairness, says Ms. Hancock Williams. I learned long ago that the most powerful leaders are highly predictable and not moody. Despite women managers' high ratings in the study, relatively few have reached the senior level. Among Fortune 1000 companies, seven have female CEOs, according to a recent article in Barron's magazine. Many women say they haven't advanced faster because men prefer to promote after their own image.