Tomasz Mnich
Leadership Coach based in Warsaw, Poland
Founder of the ‘Why Method’
“One strong female leader in the boardroom can overpower three male leaders”
What is the ‘why method’, and what’s its connection with female leadership?
The ‘why method’ is a framework that helps leaders be more aware of what is happening with their teams at the moment, and what is needed to unlock the full potential of the situation. It came out through years of exploration, showing how powerful feminine leadership is when approached consciously and with courage.
What is your take on women leadership in top positions – at CEO levels and in board positions?
For me, one strong female leader in the boardroom can overpower three male leaders. So, I would rather ask what we can do to enable women at the top leverage their unique authentic feminine leadership styles for the good of the organization, its employees, customers, society, and shareholders.
The only answer that comes to my mind is focusing on internal personal growth. When feminine leaders and rare examples of emphatic male leaders embrace fully their natural need to connect and empower others, nothing can stop them. The question of “gender parity” will dissolve by itself.
As a man, what do you feel are the unique facets that women bring to leadership? What are some things that women do better than men?
Let’s generalize. Women in leadership roles have a natural need to care for relationships and connections. Even if this is not visible, the urge to be part of the group is deeply rooted in femininity. We men in leadership roles typically focus on the vision. Being part of a group tends to hinder us and our effort forward.
Women in leadership roles are more prone to feel emotions of the team. This gives them an opportunity to leverage the full potential of employees. Whether they do it or not this is another story.
Feminine leaders are more sensitive towards the long-term needs that expand through the particular financial interest of shareholders. Care for humanity and the well-being of next generations is what I have more opportunities to discuss with women than men.
These three — relationships, full potential of the team, and a meaningful vision forward — are the main qualities that can make a woman with feminine leadership style really strong, powerful, and successful.
Are men alright being aligned with being “male allies”: helping women break the glass ceiling without feeling insecure or threatened?
I’ve met only a few men in my career who were not afraid of losing their position when a strong leader showed up in the environment, regardless of whether it was a woman or man.Men tend to see their value outside of themselves. The threat of losing their position, influence, power is overbearing. Only when men develop himself from the inside out does the perception of value shift. Unfortunately, that’s rare. If this is the case, women should just focus on those three qualities mentioned before — and show the masculine world the real power they and their teams hold.
What are some of the questions women get asked – that men rarely do?
I would rather share with you a question that I hear often women ask when dealing with men in the boardroom: “How do I get men to acknowledge us as equals, and take us seriously?”I am purposefully leaving out examples of questions women get asked. Those questions if asked certainly come out of male insecurities rather than admiration of feminine leadership.
Do you have a female role model? Please share what leadership skills she possesses make her inspiring?
I had an opportunity to work with a production company years ago. The leadership team decided to transform the culture towards more empowerment, better collaboration and lesser importance of managers. The main aim was to deliver faster and more efficient products to their main customers.She used to be a CHRO at that time and waslater promoted to the CEO. Qualities that I observed in her: never focused on herself, always on the team’s wellbeing and growth; she always stood for respectful interactions between people;she had her own vision, and faith in that vision, regardless of male opinions; she pursued that vision with kindness and focus, never afraid of stopping you when you crossed the line.