Stereotype and Gender Differences
Leadership Power and Influence
Stages of Personal Diversity Awareness
organizations. One aspect of diversity of particular interest is women’s style of
leadership, referred to as interactive leadership. The values associated with interactive
leadership, such as inclusion, relationship building, and caring, are emerging as
valuable qualities for both male and female leaders in the twenty-first century.
People differ in their level of diversity awareness and their sensitivity to other
cultures, values, and ways of doing things. Leaders evolve through stages of personal
diversity awareness and action, ranging from minimum efforts to meet affirmative
action guidelines to valuing diversity as an integral part of organizational
culture. Strong, culturally sensitive leadership is the only way organizations can
become inclusive. Leaders first change themselves by developing personal characteristics
that support diversity. They use these personal characteristics to change
the organization. The ultimate goal for leaders in the twenty-first century is to
build organizations as integrated communities in which all people feel encouraged,
respected, and committed to common purposes and goals.