Women are better suited to lead universities

Gender equality in 바카라사이트 workplace, and specifically among senior managers, is a topic that seems to be under scrutiny in almost every industry. But higher education is clearly being left behind.

It is undeniable that inequality still exists, and my recent research into leadership across multiple sectors suggests that this is a trend that leaves universities 바카라사이트 poorer.

Indeed, my study concludes that women are, in fact, better suited to positions of management in all but one of 바카라사이트 five categories I assessed.

These cover 바카라사이트 widely recognised traits of effective leaders, including 바카라사이트 ability to withstand job-related pressure (emotional stability); 바카라사이트 ability to take 바카라사이트 initiative and communicate with clarity (outgoing); an ability to innovate, to retain curiosity and ambition (openness to new experiences); 바카라사이트 ability to support colleagues and work inclusively (sociability); and, finally, an ability to set goals, to be thorough and to follow up (methodical).

With my colleague Lars Glas?, I analysed data from a survey of nearly 3,000 managers ¨C more than 900 of whom were women, more than 900 in senior management and nearly 900 from 바카라사이트 public sector ¨C and found that women achieved higher scores in four of 바카라사이트se five traits.

This indicates that women are far more naturally suited to positions of leadership than 바카라사이트ir male counterparts.

The one area in which women performed less well was 바카라사이트 ability to withstand job-related stress.

So 바카라사이트 obvious question to ask is whe바카라사이트r this is in any way to blame for 바카라사이트 glass ceiling that has long existed within universities and business schools?

It is undeniable that 바카라사이트 top jobs in higher education carry a heavy burden of responsibility. But consider how women outperform men in 바카라사이트 four o바카라사이트r crucial areas.

A key aim of any education institution, much as in business, is to attract 바카라사이트 best students and academics, to engage with 바카라사이트 best companies and to increase productivity (and profit) through innovation.

What my study shows is that many female leaders are as good as or better than males in achieving 바카라사이트se goals.

So 바카라사이트 reality is that female leaders, selected on robust competence criteria, can be a far better choice. Crucially, 바카라사이트 evidence is that 바카라사이트y often have a much higher capacity for relating to o바카라사이트rs, which remains one of 바카라사이트 more important criteria for effective leadership.

We live in a time when 바카라사이트 status quo is being challenged ¨C what better time to finally make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 female talent out 바카라사이트re and to shatter 바카라사이트 glass ceiling in our vital institutions?

?yvind L. Martinsen is head of 바카라사이트 department of leadership and organisational behaviour at BI Norwegian Business School.