Helping More Women Rise to the Very Top: 10 Leadership Behaviors that May be Holding Women Back

The world needs more women in positions of power and influence. Whether you’re a woman already in a senior leadership role or someone who mentors and manages women in such positions, it’s vital to recognize and address the behaviors that may be holding women back from reaching the pinnacle of success. In this blog, we will explore ten common leadership behaviors, as identified by Marshall Goldsmith, that could hinder women from breaking through the glass ceiling and offer strategies to overcome these obstacles.

1. Reluctance to claim achievements
2. Expecting others to spontaneously notice and reward our contributions
3. Overvaluing expertise and not building connections and relationships
4. Building rather than leveraging relationships
5. Failing to enlist allies on day one
6. Putting job before your career
7. The perfection trap
8. The desire/disease to please
9. Minimizing body language and words
10. Not direct – Too much information

Some of these behaviors and habits may be learned and some behaviors could be cultural but the very good news is that these behaviors can be improved over time. Helping team members recognize these behaviors or habits is the first step and then mentoring and coaching can help team members overcome these behaviors that can be holding them back.

Sometimes it is difficult to envision what it will take to make this change but check out one of our recent posts – how to build an action plan. The good news is that these behaviors and habits, whether learned or influenced by culture, can be improved with time and effort.

Developing a well-defined action plan is key, and once you have created it, it’s important to keep it at the forefront of your mind on a weekly basis. Regular reflection on your progress, preferably on a monthly basis, will help you gauge your own growth and make necessary adjustments along the way. Remember, change is a journey, and with dedication and perseverance, you can overcome these obstacles and thrive.

Breaking down the barriers that hinder women’s progress to the top requires recognition, action, and support. By addressing these ten leadership behaviors and implementing strategies to overcome them, women can unlock their full potential and rise to the highest levels of leadership.

If you have identified any of these behaviors in your team members or even in yourself while reading this article and would like to delve deeper into the topic or explore our coaching services and offerings, please feel free to reach out to us. We are here to provide further information and support. Please use the contact information below to get in touch with us.