Why we need female leaders

Anyone to google ‘sustainability’ is treated to millions of hits. There is a vast amount of information available on innovative, inspiring and intriguing ideas that make the world a bit better. From wild futuristic plans to small-scale initiatives that distinguish themselves because of their simplicity. But how are ideas transformed to reality? That is where you need leadership. Sounds logical, yes? However, what is leadership anyway? And who are better at it: men or women?

Share and support

U.S. National Archives and Records
(Administration Wikimedia Commons)

To analyse ‘leadership’ Google also provides good results. Many sites speak of leadership styles, ranging from situational, servant, personal, empathic or even invisible leadership. Many roads lead to Rome, but a clear vision, creativity and vigour are recurring features. This also holds true for integrating sustainability in organisations: without a strong message it will lead nowhere. But only a strong message, also leads nowhere. Sustainability is teamwork, it needs to be shared and supported. And this means discussing, empathizing and compromising. You will need imagination to see it …

Transformational leadership

Around the world top management of companies consist of men. Research has shown that male leaders are in general more task oriented, have a big focus on money and are more at ease in fixed structures and processes. On the other hand women are capable to act strategically, to make comprises and implement innovations. In short: they are better at transformational leadership, and this is exactly what we need to create support for sustainability. Not convinced? Sheryl Sandberg, member of Facebook’s Board of Management, has appropriately summarised the distinctive value of female leaders:

Reinforcing each other

Does this mean we don’t need male leadership? Well no, of course not: both male and female leaders have their own qualities. It is just a matter of maximising those skills in the most optimal way. Men and women are perfectly able to reinforce each other, but then the balance should be different. Meaning: more women in management boards, more female leaders. And yes, this requires some adaptability, releasing of existing structures and making compromises. I can imagine it and I go for it.

Transparency in the ‘turbulent teens’

Being socially responsible is not only a matter of doing but also of communication: to show what you are doing, why and how. To inspire others, and also to offer room for stakeholders' ideas. The key word is transparency. Discover how transparency can help deal with the challenges of these times.

De Kristal

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation wants to encourage companies to be transparent about their sustainability activities. Good reporting is of crucial importance to separate the wheat from the chaff: how are the big companies doing and what types of improvements are there? Every year a selection of companies are evaluated on this in the Transparantiebenchmark. The winner receives the prestigious De Kristal award.

Turbulent teens

Social responsibility is here to stay, but what is really happening and, still more important: how effective is it? These are turbulent times because the world is on the move. Different problems are addressed in the report Vision 2050: the new agenda for businesses: unemployment and social unrest such as e.g. happening in South Europe; climate changes and scarcity of raw materials. We are only at the beginning of a difficult road: ‘The turbulent teens have just started.’ Therefore we need a radical, fast reformation, namely NOW.

Accountants to the rescue

Revolution does not occur automatically; we must actively work on it by creating the right frameworks. ‘We must change the rules of the game’, says Peter Bakker of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Meaning: companies must pay for the natural and social consequences of their activities. It is time to draw up rules for non-financial reporting (for natural capital and social capital), only then will real transparency emerge. A good example for this is Puma: they map the Cost of the Planet of their company’s activities.  

Your true nature

On the 22nd of November three companies received De Kristal 2012 award. Mondial Movers was chosen for the second time in a row in the category SME, while DSM was the big winner among the large companies. Koninklijke Wessanen won the award in the category ‘biggest improver 2012’.

The jury had chosen the credo ‘Show who you really are, what your true nature is’ in order to select the winner. This may be the golden tip for those who want to go for next year’s award.