One of the oldest erroneous gender stereotypes is that women are too emotional to be effective leaders, especially in times of uncertainty. Contrary to this belief, a study of 137 leader-reporter pairs conducted in Europe during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic shows that women may actually be less likely than men to allow emotions to negatively affect their leadership behaviors. During this time, female leaders reported higher anxiety levels, but did not translate these emotions into abusive behaviors, unlike male leaders who exhibited more hostile supervision when anxious. Women typically engaged in supportive behaviors for their families, regardless of their emotional state. The study highlights the importance of recognizing the unique strengths women bring to leadership roles, especially their ability to lead with compassion and put others first, but also notes that compassionate leadership behaviors are evaluated differently based on the leader’s gender. The study calls for more inclusive research that addresses diverse gender identities and cultural backgrounds.
