One analysis finds that qualities such as wisdom and compassion are the hallmarks of exceptional leaders. [8] And in a recent study of global companies, 55% of female leaders were judged by their followers as being wise and compassionate, compared with only 27% of male leaders.
[9] These are not fuzzy qualities that are tangential to success – the pandemic has shown us their real world impact. There is evidence that female leaders performed better[10], in part because their communication approach struck a balance between science and empathy. Female leaders often sought to share common experiences, engage with the public and reach out to vulnerable groups.