Thursday, May 7, 2009

Do Women Make Better Bosses?

A growing number of consultants & corporate leaders swear by a new strategy to boost the bottom line: Put more women in charge. Several recent studies have linked greater gender diversity in senior posts with financial success. This represents an important twist in the debate over women in business. For decades, women's advancement has been seen as an issue of fairness and equality; but now researchers say it should also be seen in another way – a smart way to make money. – “Boston Globe”

Which gender would you rather have as a boss and why?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My present boss is female and she is great. I think it depends on the person though. I have had female bosses in the past that are on such a power high. For instance, if she says she is going to make some changes to your job and you try to give some input as to the pros and cons of her idea, she simply says well that is the way it is going to be your opinion is not welcome and maybe it is time for you to move on to another position if you don't like the changes. Or, she has said to another co worker. Your opinion is not welcome. You must be stressed. You should book yourself in to a spa on the weekend. AND..if you try to have a simply conversation with a co worker that is not to do with your job..."this conversation can take place on your break on your own time" is what she says. Any wonder why I moved on to a new job? Her management team is the same and if they are not she gets rid of them. What a charmer!! 13 years I put up with the likes of her. Now I have a female supervisor and manager and I could not be happier. I am thanked for my input and encouraged to give it. My manager even stops for a minute of idle chit chat!! I must be in workplace heaven! I don't know what took me so long to get away from the other one. I guess I just didn't realize it after a while and accepted it as the "norm".

Anonymous said...

It's not the gender that makes your boss good or bad ... I have had amazing women bosses and other women bosses who should have just stayed home in bed.

Anonymous said...

I have more then one boss that is female, I am middle mgmt and female my immediate boss is female and the senior level VP is also female and actually so it the EVP, this is all in a finance dept for a large company. I have had great bosses of both gender and awful ones so it is mostly a personality thing sometimes. However as a parent I can say sometimes women that are also mothers have a bit more compassion for that situation. I have worked for men and one with no children and although he was great he couldn't really apprecaite the challenges with small children! I am glad as a women to see more and more in higher ranking positions.

Anonymous said...

Yes, generally female bosses are better. I have had more female bosses than male, and I feel that however nice the males (and they aren't always), it's easier to have a connection with the female. That may be because I am also.

My current boss is a female and is my favorite so far. She blends progress and leadership with understanding in a way that leads me to respect her and always feel I can go to her and trust her.

She's not perfect, and she doesn't expect me to be. Which is great, because that's not going to happen. But it makes me feel like I owe her what I can do, which seems fair.

However, both of her bosses are older males, and I don't think they treat her with the respect or responsibility her position is supposed to entitle. That puts me more on her side, because it's such improper behavior and she's very capable, just stifled by the "old boy" environment.

FYI-Management is supposed to be changing how it treats their generational employees. Maybe this attitude will be more relevant in the future than gender.

Anonymous said...

As a female, I find it much easier to communicate with male bosses. They are free from jelousy some females are so affected by. I had aweful experiences with women bosses who picked on the same gender staff, just because they were prettier and smarter!