Regardless of how far we’d like to believe gender (性别) equality in the workplace has come, there’s still a yawning gap between male and female leaders in the professional world. A 2018 statistic shows that women nowadays hold just 5.8 percent of CEO positions at S&P 500 companies, according to Catalyst.

While it’s not a huge shock that women are somewhat underrepresented in leadership positions, what is surprising though, is the fact that females may actually be better suited to lead in almost every area, at least according to new findings from the BI Norwegian Business School.

In their research, Professor Martinsen and Professor Lars Glas surveyed 2,900 managers with a special focus on personality types. The results were clear: Women scored higher than men in four of the five major leadership-centric categories.

While some people believe that men inherently make better leaders—probably because they picture a leader with a commanding voice, which is more typical of men than women—this piece of research suggests that women are better at methodical management and goal-setting, openness, sociability and supportiveness, as well as ability to communicate clearly.

There was one area in which men scored higher than women, though, and that was on emotional stability and ability to face job-related pressure and stress. The results suggest that women are more sensitive to the effects of high-pressure or highly emotional situations.

Obviously, its important to consider individual differences.Anyone, regardless of gender may be an inspiring leader and a competent boss. But next time you're hiring for a management position, you just might want to give the resumes(简历)from female candidates a harder look.

Your success as a manager can be determined by how you interact with people. The role of a manager as a leader is an important part of these interactions. Leadership involves influencing colleagues so that they follow a given direction or goal.【小题1】

The first is the “people function”. Here leadership helps to hold a group together and maintain the motivation of the group.【小题2】In this role the leader will ensure the group has sufficient funds to carry out its tasks. So a leader should be seen to have influence both outside the group and within the group.

Next comes the “task function”. Here leadership involves deciding what the tasks of the group of employees are and then making sure that they are carried out successfully.

The third is the “strategic function.” 【小题3】A group of workers that knows what they are trying to achieve will be more efficient and better motivated than a group that doesn’t know what it’s supposed to be doing.

【小题4】For example, how much power the manager has over the group, how well the manager knows the systems present in an organization and how many personal contacts the manager has within the organization.

Good communication is another crucial element to successful leadership. A good leader is aware both of the message to be communicated and of the importance of effective communication to influence members of the group. 【小题5】It is essential to be a role model for the policies you advocate. And remember, always accept responsibility for your mistakes and don’t blame colleagues for things that you do badly. No one is perfect. Just remember this when you interact with colleagues.

Whenever you meet someone for the first time, you take great care to make a good impression. 【小题1】 When customers call for the first time they will judge you and your organization based on the impression that you make when you take and deal with their calls. Do you know what to say and do in such everyday situation on the telephone?

★Answering the phone politely.

The way in which you answer the telephone say a lot about you. 【小题2】 So make sure it’s a good one. Before you pick up the phone make sure that there is a smile on your face. Believe me, you can hear a smile! You should sound friendly and welcoming on the phone even when you’re having a terrible day.

★Transferring (转移) calls.

If someone has reached you or your department by mistake, kindly transfer them and offer them information on how they can better reach that person next time. For example, you can say, “I’m sorry. 【小题3】 Let me transfer you to Ms Smith in Human Resources. If you’d like to reach her directly next time, her extension (分机) is 3556.”

★Taking messages.

Sometimes I’m amazed by the things people tell me when I call a company to speak to someone. I hear everything from “He’s out.” with no explanation, to “He is on the toilet.”   【小题4】 The proper response when some is out is something like the following: “【小题5】 Can I help you, or would you like to leave a message?”