What makes women better leaders in a crisis?

Centuries of resisting domination and combating prejudices have imbued women with immense grit and tenacity, says Nimisha Rana Pathak, the HR country head for global professional services firm Alvarez and Marsal in India By Mamta Sharma

Acrisis erupts when you least expect it, but also brings opportunity in its wake.

Based on analysis of a 360-degree feedback data between March and June 2020 – the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, a research study by Harvard Business Review states that women are natural leaders when dealing with a crisis situation, and were emerged better leaders before and during the pandemic.

“When discussing the careers of women leaders, a phenomenon referred to as the “glass cliff" often comes up, denoting how when a company is in trouble, a female leader is put in charge to save it. When women are finally given a chance to prove themselves in a senior position, they are handed something that is already broken and where the chances of failure are high. We see this happen frequently enough that it made us wonder, are women in fact more qualified to lead during a crisis? Could that be why they are handed the reins when times are tough?,” says the Harvard Business Review research.

In an interaction with People Matters, Nimisha Rana Pathak, the HR country head for global professional services firm Alvarez and Marsal in India, shares the top five qualities that women possess, which, according to her, enable them to stand apart – and effective – while managing crises.

Empathy

In the cut-throat world of business, empathy is an important and rare quality, helping to bring people together, understanding them better, and enabling better decision making.

often, showing emotions and feelings is seen from a negative lens; however, it has been proven to be one of the effective ways of managing people, particularly during a sensitive crisis situation

“Women possess empathy inherently and that gives them an edge over others, especially in leadership roles. Often, showing emotions and feelings is seen from a negative lens; however, it has been proven to be one of the effective ways of managing people, particularly during a sensitive crisis situation. Much research indicates that leaders who display honesty and integrity; and who are sensitive and understanding of the stress, anxiety, and frustration that people are feeling are wanted and loved by people. Women are often rated higher on these traits. Emotion as it stands today in the world of mental health issues, pandemics, and crises, is one of the biggest strengths one can have,” says Pathak.

Collaborative approach

Pathak says women are experts in collaboration, and enjoy working across teams. And in any crisis situation, collaboration ensures appropriate response coupled with relevant skills and strategy.

“Whether it is working with various vendors externally or getting together different teams internally. Collaboration is key to getting work done swiftly and with the right expertise,” she adds.

Resilience and tenacity

Centuries of fighting domination and rising against prejudices have largely conditioned women with immense grit and tenacity.

“A lot of them also work with a mindset to deliver results that acts as a driver/ motivator to achieve their goals. This also makes them calmer to deal with tough situations, as they are determined to find a solution and overcome the situation,” says Pathak.

A crisis teaches you a lot of valuable lessons. Successful business leaders focus on these learnings and build a strong shield against similar future crises

Effective communication

Communication can make or break a situation. Therefore, it becomes critical for individuals to have clarity in communication to achieve desired outcomes. As per Pathak, due to their observant and collaborative nature, women are measured and engaged in their communication. “They are known to show compassion towards others and are good listeners,” she adds.

Open to learning

A crisis teaches you a lot of valuable lessons. Successful business leaders focus on these learnings and build a strong shield against similar future crises. “We have observed that women are receptive to learning things at every stage; this makes them sharpen their expertise in the respective area and prepare for the future. Colleagues, family, friends, companies around women tend to greatly benefit from this quality,” says Pathak.