How many times, as a woman in a leadership role, have you heard those muttered words:
‘She’s such an alpha female’ – and it hasn’t been a compliment? More to the point, it’s come from another woman.
There is such a negative perception of the ‘alpha’ from a business perspective, and it isn’t necessarily gender specific, although as is often the case, the more stereotypically undesirable traits are given solely to women.
Power-hungry. Ruthless. Willing to sell one’s own sister/grandmother/best friend to get ahead. Will sacrifice family, friends, and any semblance of a home life for her career. And possibly the biggest ‘killer’ of all, when it comes to the sisterhood;
Acts just like a man.
There is seen to be no collaborative approach, no empathy, no ‘softer’ business traits when it comes to the alpha in business, especially the alpha female. Many argue that there isn’t actually a place in modern business methodology for the alpha personality, as it goes against the grain of collaborative business practices; that alpha personality types are incapable of engaging with teams and being flexible enough for patience and innovative thinking.
This needs to be turned on its head.
What if we were to say ‘acts just like a wolf’?
Think about the reality of a wolf pack. Each pack has both alpha males and females, who are there to drive change and who act more as influencers and to hold the dynamic of the group than as enforcers or heavies. They are accepted because they speak with the group, not for the group. The betas know that they are inherently powerful in their own right – they’re wolves after all – and that the care and protection of the pack falls to the alphas. If they fail in that care, they are no longer fit to hold a position of leadership.
If we apply this to business leadership, what is seen as ruthlessness becomes a willingness to undertake drastic measures to ensure the safety of a management group. There is no point in a high level manager achieving profits for a corporation, for example, if line managers and their general staff are not receiving benefits and general support. If the ‘alpha’ is engaging for their team, then they have to make the tough calls.
Conversely, a true alpha will always step back and allow a ‘beta’ to speak when they want to; but again, they will take the lead on projects, or as an entrepreneur – because often that’s the way both personality types like it. Again, think about the number of times you, if you could be considered an ‘alpha’, have taken the lead on a project, or in your own business, because that’s the way you AND your team prefer it. Does it mean you don’t give credit where and when credit is due?
If you said ‘yes’ to that by the way, that doesn’t mean you’re an alpha; it just means you are selfish and need to think about your leadership style. Fast.
A wolf pack functions because every member understands his or her position in it. Female wolves aren’t viewed as power-mad, because female wolves hold as much value as males. They are valued solely for their ability to keep up with the pack. It’s a little hard to imagine, but one day perhaps we will get there.
Of course, there is the wild card of the Omega.
I hear they are still whispering Steve Jobs’ name at Apple.