HEADHUNTER COLUMN: WOMEN CXOS
India Inc is fast getting used to a ‘feminine’ style of leadership, which Ravi Bhatia, President & Managing Partner of executive search firm Gilbert Tweed International, says will soon be the norm—not just because far more number of women will take the corner room, which of course they will, but also because the leadership skills these women bring are superior to those which have dominated the marketplace so far. He, like all of us, is hopeful that tomorrow’s world will churn out many more Indra Nooyis, Chanda Kochhars and Naina Lal Kidwais. Ravi Bhatia tells you what is it that corporates in India and outside value about women CXOs.
By
Ravi Bhatia, President & Managing Partner, Gilbert Tweed International
The corporate India has realized that women
should be given equal opportunity to take on leadership roles and they do look
for those who have the quality of being successful leaders, CXOs, CEOs. And
it’s happening not just because a large pool of very talented and skilled women
are invading India Inc, but also because the world has so rapidly changed that
the unique skills women posses could bring in much more firepower to any
corporate’s march to growth and success.
Dominance as a leadership tool is becoming far less popular. Organisations need those leaders who can forge consensus among team members, and extract the best from all individuals, instead of passing orders. There is a growing appreciation of a woman’s ability to take everyone along, to keep family and organisation together. And, in turn, the emergence of ‘feminine’ style of leadership in parts of the corporate landscape is helping the world appreciate the values that really matter for any organisation or society.
My observation is that women leaders are more assertive and persuasive, have a better skill of getting things done and are sometimes more willing to take risk than their male counterparts.
And the most important attribute about a female leader is her interpersonal skills. They can figure out most complex situations and with their insight and persuasive arguments bring about consensus among team members and an effective solution to the problem.
Executive search organisations like ours use structured processes of recruiting
individuals for executive positions in an organisation. The assessment process is very comprehensive and helps assess qualities and skills that an individual possesses as effective leader for our clients in the corporate world.
As India’s growth story progresses the corporate landscape will dramatically change and my hunch is in a few years it will be men competing against women for leadership roles rather than women against men!!
