When you need a colleague to collaborate on a project, whom do you choose?

Though most experts agree that a balance of gender in the workplace is ideal, studies show that women tend to excel in some areas and men excel in others. According to available research, here are some of the strengths of each gender in the workplace:

Women

    • Women leaders are typically supportive, rewarding and compassionate and have good team-building skills, whereas men are better at behaviours such as delegating and managing up.
    • Women leaders are more persuasive than their male counterparts. They’re able to read situations accurately and process information from all sides.
    • They tend to ask questions: “What do you think is best for us?”, be risk aware: “Let’s be sure we weigh our alternatives and pick the best”, seek conversations: “I want to know who you are” and be inclusive: “Your opinion is important to me”.
    • They like a challenge. A 2009 international study by Accenture found that 70% of businesswomen asked their bosses for new challenges at work compared to less than half of the businessmen polled.
    • Women are honest, hard workers. Women ask for more to do and are likely to work longer hours than their male counterparts. Polls by career site theFit showed that 54% of women worked 9 to 11 hour days compared to 41% of men. Women, more than men, also expressed a willingness to do some work while on leave and were less likely to spend their sick days “playing hooky”, taking a mental health day, suffering from a hangover or interviewing for another job.

Men

    • They’re early adopters of technology and tend to rely on technology more than their female counterparts do.
    • They’ll ask for what they want and are good negotiators. Research by Accenture shows that only 45% of women would be willing to ask for a raise compared to 61% of men.
    • When in doubt, they’ll “wing it”. Males tend to convey more confidence than women. For instance they’ll say: “I want this assignment and will figure it out”.
    • Men tend to be more decisive than women: “I say let’s go for it, we’ll make it work”, bolder: “I’ll be the go-to guy” and take more risks than women: “Just think of the payoff if we get it right!”
    • Men make friends in high places. Sociology researchers Lisa Torres and Matt L Huffman found that both men and women build social networks with people of the same gender. As upper management still tends to be male dominated, this places men in a better position to receive promotions from their mentors.

Point to ponder

Despite their differences, research also shows that men and women’s professional attributes are not solidly black and white. Gender diversity isn’t a numbers game. It’s the ability to understand the different strengths that individuals bring to the boardroom table.

 

Sources

 

Charles Craver (George Washington University law professor). 2004. The impact of gender on bargaining interactions. The Negotiator Magazine.
Gannon Drew. 2012. The Fiscal Times. May 25
Ibarra Herminia, Carter N M & Silva C. 2010. Why men still get more promotions than women. Harvard Business Review. September.
www.accenture.com
www.forbes.com
www.td.org