In recent weeks I've been interested in the differences in masculine and feminine energy.  Let me say up front that masculine and feminine energy does not necessarily correlate with male and female gender.  A female in the workplace can (and often does) adopt a masculine energy in her approach to managerial or leadership roles. 

Masculine energy is driven, powerful, result-focused, directive, and task-oriented.  Feminine energy is typified by a more peaceful and intuitive approach, is relationship-focused, collaborative and supportive.  Remember, I'm not describing men and women here, I'm describing the energy with which we approach leadership roles.

Most men and most women tend to adopt a masculine approach to their leadership function or executive function in the workplace.  Perhaps this is because the boardroom was traditionally a male domain where masculine energy abounded, so that when females began to find their way into this echelon it was the result of having adopted this energetic style, or they quickly learned to develop this style when introduced at this level.

What is of interest to me, however, is that when examining the kind of leader behaviours that influence affective commitment from employees (the desire to achieve organisational goals because they feel a sense of belonging and identity with the organisation), behaviours that are associated more with feminine energy become important.

Research that I recently conducted with an Australian organisation of over 25,000 employees shows some of the most highly correlated leader behaviours in relation to organisational commitment using the acronyms RELATE and LEAD.  Examine these for yourself and consider whether you feel that the behaviour demonstrates more masculine energy or more feminine energy.

R = Respect the individuals on your team

E = Express an interest in the personal lives of your team

L = Let go of your need to control everything

A = Accept that mistakes will be made - use them as a learning opportunity

T = Transform your team through personal and professional development

E = Expect great relationships; focus on the things that are working well

L = Lead by example, not just how to work but also how to maintain balance

E = Elevate performance expecations and give meaning to outcomes

A = Acknowledge effort and appraise accordingly

D = Deliver on promises to provide certainty

Having spoken to many coaching clients about their difficult leadership functions, they often relate to clashes between two masculine energies (regardless of gender).  If it is the team that works to provide the results under the guidance and direction of its leader, and we want the team to want to achieve the goals of the organisation from an intrinsic perspective, theory would suggest that we would encourage masculine energetic approaches from the team members, and a fundamentally feminine energetic approach from the team leader - with the use of masculine energy only as a form of punctuation in their style.

Until next week, focus on the results you want to achieve.