In the workplace, women often face discrimination in pay and leadership roles. But are they inferior managers? Far from it, reveals research by Professor Øyvind L. Martinsen at BI Norwegian Business School. His team analyzed personality traits of nearly 3,000 managers and found women outperforming men in nearly every category.
The study evaluated five key areas: initiative and communication; openness and innovation; sociability and support; management methods and goal-setting; and emotional stability under work stress. Women led in all but the final criterion. "These results challenge traditional hierarchies and women's underrepresentation in them," notes Professor Martinsen. Co-author Professor Lars Glasø adds, "Overlooking this risks hiring less qualified leaders, harming productivity."
