Introduction
Women’s participation in leadership roles within not-for-profit organizations has become increasingly significant. As leadership dynamics evolve, exploring the relational skills that empower women leaders to navigate this sector’s unique challenges and opportunities is essential. This assignment delves into crucial themes extracted from a curated literature list to shed light on the essential relational skills crucial for women’s success in not-for-profit leadership.
Key Theme 1: Women’s Leadership Characteristics
Subtheme 1: General Characteristics of Women Leaders
Research indicates that women leaders exhibit distinct characteristics contributing to their effectiveness in not-for-profit organizations. Adina-Loredana DOGARU-TULICĂ (2019) emphasizes the significance of these characteristics in her study, providing insights into the multifaceted nature of women’s leadership. Furthermore, Dogaru-Tulică (2019) expands on the general traits that female leaders possess, offering a comprehensive understanding of the qualities that define their leadership style.
Similarly, Buttner (2001) explores the management style of female entrepreneurs, highlighting the relational frame that underlies their leadership approach. This subtheme aims to uncover the foundational characteristics that women leaders bring to the not-for-profit sector.
Subtheme 2: Emotional Intelligence in Women Leaders
The role of emotional intelligence in leadership has gained prominence in recent studies. Garza and Salcedo (2021) discuss strategies for fostering emotional intelligence among organizational leaders, emphasizing its relevance to effective leadership. This subtheme explores the emotional intelligence aspect of women leaders and its impact on their ability to navigate complex relationships within not-for-profit organizations.
Furthermore, Santa et al. (2023) delve into the broader impact of emotional intelligence on operational effectiveness, highlighting the mediating role of organizational citizenship behavior and leadership. Understanding the nuances of emotional intelligence becomes crucial for women leaders striving for success in the unique context of not-for-profit environments.
Subtheme 3: Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Operational Effectiveness
Building upon the previous subtheme, Panda and Banik (2020) investigate how women leaders utilize emotional intelligence to transform an organization’s culture. This study provides valuable insights into the practical application of emotional intelligence in leadership. As women leaders navigate the challenges of not-for-profit organizations, leveraging emotional intelligence becomes a vital relational skill for operational effectiveness.
Key Theme 2: Leadership Strategies and Styles
Subtheme 1: Management Styles of Female Entrepreneurs
Buttner’s (2001) examination of the management style of female entrepreneurs forms the basis for understanding the diverse approaches women bring to leadership roles. Hurst, Leberman, and Edwards (2018) further contribute by presenting a holistic, relational approach to managing relationships at work. This subtheme explores the various management styles women leaders adopt, emphasizing their significance in the not-for-profit sector.
Subtheme 2: Strategies for Fostering Emotional Intelligence Among Organizational Leaders
Garza and Salcedo’s (2021) study on strategies for fostering emotional intelligence among organizational leaders is foundational for understanding how women leaders can cultivate emotional intelligence within their teams. Additionally, Panda and Banik (2020) provide insights into utilizing emotional intelligence to transform organizational culture, contributing to the broader discourse on effective leadership strategies in not-for-profit environments.
Subtheme 3: Inclusive Leadership Development
Sugiyama et al. (2016) discuss inclusive leadership development, drawing from women’s and general leadership program pedagogies. This subtheme explores how inclusive leadership can empower women leaders to create positive and collaborative environments within not-for-profit organizations.
Key Theme 3: Work Relationships and Networks
Subtheme 1: Women Leaders and Work Relationships
Davidson’s (2018) exploration of women leaders beyond colleagues provides a nuanced understanding of how women cultivate meaningful work relationships. This subtheme delves into the intricacies of work relationships for women leaders in not-for-profit organizations, examining the importance of building connections beyond professional collaborations.
Livingston’s (2012) study on the perceptions of executive coaches about wisdom in organizational leaders contributes valuable insights into the role of wisdom in shaping work relationships among women leaders. Understanding how executive coaches perceive wisdom in leaders can shed light on the qualities that foster effective work relationships within not-for-profit contexts.
Subtheme 2: Women Managing Women – Holistic Relational Approach
Hurst, Leberman, and Edwards (2018) provide a unique perspective on women managing women, introducing a holistic relational approach. This subtheme explores the challenges and opportunities inherent in women leading and managing other women within not-for-profit organizations. By adopting a holistic perspective, this approach considers the complex interplay of factors that influence relationships in the workplace.
Trigg’s (2006) insights into educating women leaders for the twenty-first century add depth to our understanding of how educational strategies contribute to effective women-led management. Education plays a crucial role in shaping leadership styles, and exploring how women are educated for leadership positions enhances our comprehension of the relational skills developed through educational frameworks.
Subtheme 3: The Role of Character in Leadership Research
Wright and Goodstein’s (2007) review of individual character and organizational-level virtue provides a foundation for understanding character’s role in leadership. This subtheme explores how character traits contribute to the relational skills of women leaders in not-for-profit organizations. By examining the virtues that underpin effective leadership, we gain insights into the ethical dimensions of relationships within these settings.
Thompson’s (2010) work on “The Stress Effect” adds a practical dimension to exploring character in leadership. Understanding how stress impacts decision-making processes among innovative leaders contributes to a nuanced understanding of the challenges women leaders may face in not-for-profit environments. This subtheme provides insights into the resilience and character traits required to navigate stressful situations.
Key Theme 4: Inclusive Leadership Development
Subtheme 1: Inclusive Leadership Pedagogies
Sugiyama et al.’s (2016) exploration of inclusive leadership development draws from pedagogies of women’s and general leadership programs. This subtheme delves into the specific pedagogical approaches that promote inclusivity in leadership development. Understanding how women leaders are trained to foster inclusivity provides actionable insights for cultivating diverse and collaborative environments within not-for-profit organizations.
Chin’s (2011) work on women and leadership, transforming visions and current contexts, further contributes to the discourse on inclusive leadership. This subtheme explores the broader societal and organizational contexts that influence women’s leadership, highlighting the need for inclusive practices to address systemic barriers.
Key Theme 5: Wisdom in Leadership
Subtheme 1: Wisdom as a Leadership Attribute
Building on Livingston’s (2012) exploration of executive coaches’ perceptions of wisdom in organizational leaders, this subtheme delves into the concept of wisdom as a distinct leadership attribute. Understanding how wisdom contributes to decision-making and relationship-building is crucial for women leaders in not-for-profit organizations facing complex challenges.
Subtheme 2: Nurturing Wisdom in Leadership Development
Drawing from Ayşe Türksoy et al. (2015) work on examining trainers’ emotional intelligence and leadership skills, this subtheme explores the role of leadership development programs in nurturing wisdom among women leaders. Investigating the pedagogical strategies that foster emotional intelligence and wisdom can provide actionable insights for leadership development initiatives in the not-for-profit sector.
Key Theme 6: Performance Trade-offs in Social Enterprises
Subtheme 1: Women on Boards and Organizational Performance
Bennouri, Cozarenco, and Nyarko’s (2023) study on women on boards and performance trade-offs in social enterprises introduces a critical aspect of leadership—organizational performance. This subtheme investigates the dynamics between women’s representation on boards and the overall performance of social enterprises, contributing to a holistic understanding of women’s impact on organizational outcomes.
Subtheme 2: Microfinance as a Context for Women’s Leadership
Expanding on Bennouri et al.’s (2023) insights, this subtheme focuses on the unique context of microfinance in social enterprises. It explores the challenges and opportunities women leaders encounter in microfinance, providing context-specific knowledge for women aspiring to lead in social enterprises.
In conclusion, this assignment has explored the nuanced relational skills crucial for women leaders in not-for-profit organizations. From examining general leadership characteristics to delving into emotional intelligence, work relationships, and inclusive leadership, each theme contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of women’s leadership. The research emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence, character, and wisdom and addresses specific challenges, such as women managing women. The study of performance trade-offs in social enterprises adds a practical dimension, highlighting the significance of women’s representation in key decision-making roles.
References
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