Feminine Power is the Future of Leadership Style

Author of the book, “The Future of Power,” Joseph Nye has hit the nail on the head about women and leadership. In a recent article he said that research shows that the more “feminine styles” of leadership are effective and that the old tough male stereotypes based on power-over others are falling from favour. He acknowledged that men gravitate to the “hard” power of command and control, whereas women gravitate toward the “soft” power of attraction and persuasion. But most important is this: men not only have to learn to value this style in their female colleagues but have to master the same skills. I think I will offer a course: Tapping your Feminine Style of Leadership for men only. I would drop the words “hard” and “soft” though and replace “hard” with “firm but fair,” what is what many women already do.