Transformational leaders manage laterally by disregarding the rules of hierarchy and providing a democratic environment tailored around open communication and sharing ideas.
I began to wonder what it is attributed to. Could it be the way they were raised? Is it genetics, that women are more nurturing then men? Studies have shown that when analyzing nature over nurture one can get a better understanding of these differences. Women are child bearers and therefore genetically engineered to bear children, breast feed them, care for them, and nurture them. Men are hunters and gatherers and provide shelter and food for their families. It sounds barbaric I know but this is something I obsess over and have found countless resources on it. Fast forward thousands of years later in a time with equal opportunities and women with voices and the overall disdain for following "societal norms", we find ourselves wanting more yet with the same biological make up. This, to me, explains a lot of the transformational style leadership found in women. Biologically, we are designed to transform the child into a functional adult.
I have had only one female manager and she was more of a dictator and all around evil human than a transformational leader. She was a tyrant, maniacal, and over bearing. She did not know anyone's name and could care less about getting to know her employees. Taking a step back now as an MPA student I remember the other VP's were all men. Perhaps she felt she needed to compete with them or that showing her more nurturing side would show her to be weak. I cannot say for sure but what I do know is that she no longer works at this organization and now teaches first grade in a public school in New Jersey. So who knows?
Best,
Angie Marin
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