Not ‘working for women leaders: an invaluable privilege’ Livemint
Leadership, much like professional coaching, is about partnering. It is an adult-to-adult interaction, irrespective of hierarchy or roles. Leadership is about serving others, inspiring them, and fostering growth.
As such, it is never about working for others; it is always about working with others.
Years ago, one of my mentors in the coaching space remarked, “Women make better coaches.” At the time, I disagreed. After all, leadership traits are not confined to gender. Many women leaders, like their male counterparts, can embody “alpha” characteristics. Leadership styles are as diverse as individuals themselves.
In my earlier career in retail asset finance, primarily in commercial vehicles and construction equipment, I rarely had the privilege to work with women colleagues or interact with women stakeholders elsewhere. The industry’s landscape was predominantly male.
However, my journey in coaching has been different. While there are significantly more women coaches in the West and even in countries like Singapore, India’s coaching ecosystem is balanced, with an almost equal number of men and women. This diversity has provided rich experiences and insights. Yet, I have not found evidence to suggest that women inherently make better coaches, just as I do not believe women inherently make better leaders.
Transformational Leadership: A Balance of IQ, EQ, and SQ
Transformational leadership is a journey — one that transitions from IQ (intellectual intelligence) to EQ (emotional intelligence) and ultimately to SQ (spiritual intelligence).
Similarly, transformational coaching mirrors this path. As Sir John Whitmore said, “Coaching is leadership.”
Empathy lies at the heart of both. But empathy, as understood today — “putting ourselves in others’ shoes” — is only the beginning. True empathy goes much deeper. It is about connection, understanding, and aligning with the other person’s perspective on a profound level.
Beyond Gender: Embracing Feminine Consciousness
Leadership and coaching are not about women leaders specifically but about embracing the feminine consciousness. Feminine consciousness is a dimension of leadership marked by empathy, care, and nurturing — qualities often associated with the almost unconditional love of a mother, the support of a sister or wife, and the trust of a daughter or colleague.
As Sadhguru puts it, “Feminine is not a gender — it is a dimension.” To me, it is a Divine Consciousness that transcends gender. It is a universal quality accessible to all — men and women alike.
True leadership emerges when individuals embrace this consciousness, balancing strength with sensitivity and intellect with intuition.
My Reflections
In my journey as a coach and leader, I have learned to appreciate this balance. Leadership is not about dominating or “leading from the front.” It is about walking alongside others, listening deeply, and creating spaces where everyone can thrive. When we embrace feminine consciousness, we bring compassion, creativity, and collaboration to the forefront, making leadership a truly transformative experience.
My Guru says ‘don’t walk in front of me, don’t walk behind me… walk with me.’ That is true spiritual quotient (SQ) in coaching, leadership and life.
Whether in coaching, leadership, or life, the essence lies in moving beyond labels and stereotypes. The world needs leaders who are in touch with their humanity, leaders who understand that the greatest strength comes from embracing the full spectrum of what it means to be human — IQ, EQ, SQ, and beyond.
