The position of leadership at any level in any organization cannot be overemphasized. Leadership wields enormous powers, hence it is invariably expected to be active.
At this juncture, the pertinent question to ask would be, “What is leadership?”
Leadership, in words of one syllable, is the ability to lead, to carry a group of people along by directing, guiding and showing them the way to go. Female leadership is simply leadership by a girl or woman.
There are many reasons female leadership may be considered as being better than male leadership. In this article, I will highlight a few of these reasons, which include:Transparency and Accountability.
Let me bring home the meaning of these two terms – transparency and accountability, as they affect our day-to-day business or lives.
Transparency is the act of being open about policies and programmes in a direct and honest way, while accountability is the act of being responsible for the policies and programmes implemented and being able to justify them.
Now, from the intrinsic nature of women, it is obvious that there is more transparency and accountability in female leadership than male leadership.
On the political scene, considering the highest level of leadership, which is seat of the president, although there are not many countries under the leadership of women, the few we have had were developing at a fast pace. The track record of those women who were presidents way surpassed their predecessors who were men.
Many people who have been following developments in some of the countries led by women may affirm that, prior to the coming of the women on board as presidents, their countries were not better than most others,under the leadership of men for a time comparatively longer than the women’s stay in office. For example, the former President of cost Rica, Laura Chinchilla, in her time, opposed gay marriage and the legalization of the morning-after pill in her country – a remarkable development none of her female predecessors could bring to the country.
Administratively, there is more transparency and accountability in the government of women than most of their male counterparts. Africa’s first female president and former president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is a case in point.
In public and private enterprises, schools and many other agencies and ministries, on closer examination, there is, most of the time, better record of transparent and accountable leadership in the administration of women than men.
Flashing back to the administration of the late Prof.Dora Akunyili, in her time as the Director of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), irrefutably, not the performance of all her male predecessors and successors could be measured against her. History endlessly recounts her tremendous track record. What about the development economist and former Coordinating Minister of the Nigeria economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala? Clearly, her amiable leadership style earned her the position of the Managing Director of the World Bank.
There are other women at the helm of affairs in different agencies and other organizations around the world, who are hero-worshipped for their giant strides. There are many others who are working in obscurity as leaders with these virtues. Their record of achievements by virtue of transparent and accountable leadership administration speaks volumes for them.
Many people who are working or may have worked under women may attest to the fact that most women run a more open-door policy administration than men.
Another reason female leadership may be better than male leadership is “Justice and Equity.”
The fact that women are more soft-hearted is, no doubt, a factor that instills and ensures justice and equity in their administrations. Indubitably, there can be no good leadership without justice, and this is the only basis for development in any society.
In our judicial system, given the humane nature of women which makes it possible and necessary for justice and fair play, many female lawyers had at one time or the another relinquished a case or two when the truth of the matter surfaced. That was not because of fear or their incompetence to take up the matter, but to ensure that justice prevailed, regardless of the huge legal fess they stood to receive. This is an act of justice.
Unfortunately, only a negligible number of male lawyers would allow justice to prevail under such compelling circumstances. This is because the must-win syndrome to get rich at all cost and amass wealth always gets most of them blinded to the truth, bend the truth and defy justice.
If women had just 50 percent of leadership, the society would have been better for it, because women are mothers and nation builders. Also, the fact that a greater percent of mothers ensure better welfare of their children on equal basis.
Obviously, most women provide justice in all facets of organizations under their leadership and would, incontestably, do more if given the enabling support.
If we take a closer and critical look at the different agencies and other organizations headed by women and access their position on justice and equity, we would see that they have always fought for justice, equity and fairness. They fight against stigmatization of any sort.
All these point to the fact that most women do better than man when they are in position of leadership, hence female leadership may be seen to be better than male leadership.
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