Greater Diversity in Leadership Needed
By Benjamin Laker
Director of Impact and Global Engagement - Professor of Leadership - Postgraduate Research Director of Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Henley Business School
A study undertaken by Australia’s University of Sydney concluded that greater diversity at all levels of leadership is needed to counter gender-biased practices. As reported this week by The Guardian, “In the study—published by the journal Sex Roles—researchers asked 256 Australian men (half who are gay, and half who are heterosexual) to select a gay man to represent Sydney in a mock tourism campaign.”
Participants observed videos of white male actors performing the same script in two distinct ways; a masculine delivery and one conveying femininity. Afterwards, they were required to select which candidate seemed likeliest to inspire admiration and be regarded as a leader.
The results of this study underscore the need for greater diversity in leadership roles across all industries. But, this can only be accomplished through cultural shifts to deconstruct traditional gender roles and to encourage individuals—regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation—to embrace all aspects of individuality. And, after all, isn’t that the kind of world we all want to live in?