Women Don’t Take Risks Like Men
They determined the single most important thing about leadership is the ability to take risks. If you can’t take risks you can’t lead.
What happened next angered Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices. The group of high-level leaders from around the world said women don’t take risks.
Bold but different:
Nelson composed a list of female leaders she knew and determined they were risk-adept. The group was dead wrong. She writes in her book, Vital Voices:
“Risk is necessary for transformative change…”
“…We have found that contrary to gender stereotypes, women are incredibly risk-adept. However, … they take risks in very different ways from men.”
Nelson suggests female leaders take calculated risks:
In response to need, as opposed to aggressive risks in response to opportunity.- To improve the lives of others.
- Out of necessity when their backs are against the wall.
- They feel power to make impact.
- Under the radar rather than publicly.
“Women take risks when there’s an opportunity for community good.” Alyse Nelson
Personal observation:
Male leaders tended to take risks publicly and expect others to be inspired by their boldness. It works for the short-term. On the other hand, collaborative-boldness builds alliances that stabilize risk-taking and sustain long-term impact. Build risk-taking-alliances in private before going public.
How have you seen women lead with boldness?
How is female boldness different from male boldness?
Note: This post deals in generalities. This isn’t an all or nothing conversation. However, if men and women are the same, diversity loses its advantage.
I like the ideas you put forward – however, we’re not yet at the stage where people recognise the benefits of diversity – in all its forms. Until people see the advantages, including yes, the bottom-line benefits, diversity is seen as a ‘problem’ or challenge, rather than a fantastic solution and possibility.
Thank you Helen,
Perhaps this is the reason some women feel pressure to be like men?
I think this explains many behaviours Dan – why anyone tries to be like anyone else. Until we can be truly confident in who we are, what we offer and the skills we bring to the team, we will try to ‘fit in’ in a variety of ways until one works – the way we speak, walk, act, take decisions etc. Mirroring is a great human skill, but it can and does lead to personal disconnect sometimes. best wishes, H
Dan,
I agree with the generality that men are more likely to be publiclyly bold than women. I think more women tend to use intuition and behind the scenes moves to accomplish their aims. I think it is as much a gender preference and difference as it is a cultural expectation.
Women who are brash and bold are not usually thought of nor received well. This however, does not take away from their ability and performance as leaders.
For men, it is more an expectation of how they should be as well.
These generalities and perception don’t always serve either sex well. But, we are different. We think differently and we “move” through society differently. Acceptance of our inherent diversity is a good thing.
Thank you Martina,
Your comment re: the down side of brash/bold women rings true. I remember writing: “It’s Harder for Women” Where I said, “Men can be men but women must be both.”
http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/its-harder-for-women/
I’m thankful you regularly share your insights.
I really like Martina’s answer. Risktakers make people uncomfortable and women aren’t “supposed to” make people uncomfortable. We’re the comforters. This expectation, I believe, has caused female risktakers to have to adjust their style – to take risks in a way that is more subtle than men.
I think this expectation must differ with the organizational culture.
Your statement, “Men can be men but women must be both,” is fantastic.
Female boldness is different from male boldness, in that we have more than one child, knowing, knowing,………….how godawful painful and dangerous the whole ordeal is — and no matter what anyone says – we do remember the pain of childbirth — no amount of wonderful feelings make you forget — I know this has nothing to do with business per se – but it does disprove the theory that women do not take risks (which I think was your whole point: that they do!)
Thank you “ON”
YOur comment made me smile and grimace at the same time.. 🙂
then my work here is done
Thank you “on the..” for your comment. Yes, women all over the world are risktakers – we actually live the most dangerous lives. WHAT????? you may say, but resently I saw this statistics:
What War on Women?
http://www.thesociologicalcinema.com/1/post/2012/01/how-big-of-a-problem-is-rape-and-sexual-assault.html
So please do not say we are not risktakers.
Nevertheless women stand out and want to be counted. Nevertheless we want to safeguard the week and small. Nevertheless or perhaps just because!
I really want to thank you again Dan for putting up this important matter on the billboard.
Anne, thanks for the good word and adding to the conversation!
One of the most gut wrenching parts of Vital Voices is the stories of human trafficking and everything that’s connected with it.
The link I posted was not the one I intended. So I give it one more try:
What War on Women?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=358188067581823&set=a.358187880915175.78983.126283397438959&type=1&theater
“Risk is necessary for transformative change…”
I believe that people operate from a set of home behaviours because those behaviours have been successful for them most of the time. The happy thing is that people are intelligent, and can learn to adopt different behaviours for different situations, to obtain the outcomes they strive for. With practice, those other behaviours breed in us greater flexibility, resulting in better leadership.
Adopting other behaviours feels risky – whether we are man or woman.
And then there’s the nature and nurture thing.
Thank you Lynn,
You opened a can of works with the “Nature / nurture” comment. 🙂
If we can’t change, why try?
In education, I am surrounded by excellent female leaders. It is not evident to me that there is a significant difference in male/female leadership.
I disagree with Nelson’s summary on female leadership – I have witnessed many, many female leaders do things publicly for their own self advancement rather than the greater good. I have seen men do things collaboratively and under the radar.
In my experience, I have seen that women leaders can be as decisive and bold in their actions and decision making as men. I do think the good female leaders I’ve seen are probably more skilled at facilitating meaningful discussion before moving forward. I also think men tend to be more comfortable moving forward with just enough information and spend less time working through the possible “what-ifs”, and instead deal with the consequences of the “what-ifs” if and when they happen.
Both approaches have value.
To me, good leadership is good leadership regardless of the gender, culture, background of the person. That being said, it is good to reflect on some of these differences to help us grow.
Totally agree. This has been my experience. Women executives change the dynamic of an executive team … For the better !
Thank you Joe.
I’m always delighted to bring up this topic. I think it deserves our attention even if it might feel awkward. (Not saying you feel awkward)
Research is showing that female leaders are generally better at collaborating. I think that matters.
Additionally, the ability of female leaders to face challenges that threaten the community with resolve and dignity may suggest how well they are suited for crisis situations or turning around declining organizations.
Just stirring the pot.
I do think it’s true as a general rule. There are women who will take you by surprise. I started taking risks based on opportunity and shook the foundation – it was fabulous. And now I know what it feels like, I’m sure to do it again. I must give that book a read.
The you “Edmonton”
Your comment is inspiring. Alyse’s book is the first leadership book that brought tears to my eyes. Some of the stories are gut wrenching. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
The research on risk taking is pretty strong, women tend to take fewer risks than do men. But interestingly, that difference disappears when in an all female group — that is when around just women, women’s level of risk taking increases significantly. So women try to fit gender stereotypes when around men.
Another note: unreasonable risk-taking appears to be what got us into the mortgage melt-down mess. Too much risk is just as bad as too little.
Thank you Colleen.
Interesting that Alyse leads an organization filled with women who serve female leaders.
My gut says that guys tend to take more unreasonable risks… any research on that?
Interesting to read though it is unfair to generalize which is also acknowledged in the article.
Thank you Deepak.
Hmmm you took quite a risk writing this piece. (Laughing)
I’m trusting my readers. 🙂
haha it’s a good thing to do!
I am delighted to be a bold woman leader who takes risks without having to act like a man. Bravo to the many brave women who paved the path for me to make this my reality. I totally agree with your personal assessment, Dan, “collaborative-boldness builds alliances that stabilize risk-taking and sustain long-term impact”. Collaborative-boldness also tends to disguise bold leadership because so many voices have been invited to provide input and take ownership.
Thank you Ellen.
Congratulations on leading boldly. Boldness takes us further than timidity.
Your idea that collaborative-boldness disguises bold leadership is well taken!
Dear Dan,
Men take risks using their minds. Women take risks using their hearts. So, one is very much calculative and other is more intuitive in nature. But most often taking risks depend upon the context and its impact. When there are issue that satisfy men ego, people are more prone to take risks just to satisfy their ego. There are compulsion as well to take risks, In the organizations, situations force them to take risks, People take risk to survive in the system. However, there are situation, that do not impose conditions. In such situations, men take more risks in business related issues whereas women take more risk in people related issues. And this is one reason why less women are not top position. It happens because organizations look for business growth in number. But the fact is that driver of business growth is people effort. So, men and women are complementary to each other in the growth of the organizations.
I was very fortunate in my early working life to be a direct report to a few highly competent, well informed, educated, competitive women. Their directness and focus to get the job done, cut through a lot of bullshit and encompassed a lot of diverse angles and analogies. Their emotional intelligence appeared to be more visible as opposed to their male counterparts.
They were a breathe of fresh air to the business environment and appeared to lift the energy level up to another notch, with a very direct professionalism in getting the job done in the most beneficial way minimising chaos and uncertainty in employee’s minds. Change management appeared to be a natural element for them to handle.
The most interesting thing about them was that when they knew they had accomplished all they could within a given role, they decisively put a personal plan of action in place to secure another position to challenge their skills and abilities.
How about Esther in the Bible? She took great risks – check it out.
The Esther story is a great example of collaborative risk-taking. At first she is reluctant. In the process she gathers a team. Finally, she steps out.
I totally agree with Ajay Kumar Gupta. “So, men and women are complementary to each other in the growth of the organizations”.
A good organization need leaders that have the nerve to take the risk of trusting, seeing and lifting people even when they are down throdden by misfortune they can bounce right back. I rememer well your post Dan about “Where there always dead wood?”. I even reread it today.
My postulate is that women take the risk more often than men. Women take more risks in matters like these. I find support in this theses also in the fact that People in general always tend to take more risks in matters they master better. So if it is true that men are better at material matters and women more at home when feelings are concerned – then women tend to take more risk as they feel safer in these matters.
Ergo: we tend to take risks in matters where the risk is less or the least in our world – since we have more knowledge and feel more comfortable. Actually quite logical 🙂
And finally I would also like to remind you of Deborah in the bible!!!!
She went to war – a very interesting story – worth investigating
Hi Dan,
I am having trouble connecting with the premise, are there any examples or illustration about this theory?
Needless to say, you can’t swing a stick without hitting tons of names of (Amelia Earhart) bold corageous women (Grace O’Malley) who (Mother Teresa) bet it all for a range of reasons.
One thing I may observe but need to think on a bit, perhaps women may take risk more responsibly – I rarely hear about huge abuse of OPM by women – but again, not sure… i.e. not blow other people up with thier risks
If a man takes a risk, he might win or he might lose, in which case he picks himself up and tries again and eventually wins. When a woman takes a risk she might win or, depending on how open-mined the company, she might be branded a loser and not get another opportunity. In a company where people expect women to lose and/or want them to lose, the risk can be bigger for them than for men.