What is it about?
The coronavirus disease that emerged in 2019 (COVID-19) spotlights the need for effective leadership in a crisis. COVID-19 dramatically affected individuals, organizations, and societies. We used this life-and-death pandemic to examine a question in the literature - whether women are more effective leaders than men in a crisis. We focused on United States governors for they face extraordinary leadership trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. States with women governors had fewer COVID-19 related deaths compared to states with male governors.
Featured Image
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Why is it important?
These findings underscore the need to value different leadership voices and to build a culture of inclusion in which varied voices are heard and valued. It also highlights the importance of leaders displaying empathy and confidence through their communications in a crisis.
Perspectives
Implementing training to unobtrusively change gendered stereotypes at a societal level is easier said than done. Constructive conversations are needed to sift through ways in which pre-conceived views about gender and leadership effectiveness stereotypes can be updated.
Alex Stajkovic
University of Wisconsin Madison
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Women’s leadership is associated with fewer deaths during the COVID-19 crisis: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of United States governors., Journal of Applied Psychology, August 2020, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/apl0000577.
You can read the full text:
Resources
States with Female Governors Had Fewer COVID Deaths
Web MD News Brief summarizing our research.
Wisconsin Professors: Women Governors May Be More Successfully Managing Pandemic
Wisconsin Public Radio interview with Alex Stajkovic about this research.
Leadership During the Pandemic: States with Women Governors Had Fewer COVID-19 Deaths
Wisconsin School of Business Faculty Blog, written by Alex Stajkovic, summarizing this research.
States with women governors had fewer COVID-19 deaths and more optimistic public briefings
Interview with Kayla Sergent by PsyPost News about this research.
Women’s Leadership During the COVID-19 Crisis
Leadership Blog written by Kayla Sergent for the Lead Read Today of Fisher College of Business summarizing the findings of this research.
Women’s Leadership in the COVID-19 Crisis
Character and Context Blog for the Society for Personality and Social Psychology about this research, written by Kayla Sergent and Alex Stajkovic.
The Benefits of Female Leadership During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Review and summary of this research, written by I/O at Work.
Research: Women Are Better Leaders During a Crisis
Harvard Business Review about women's leadership during a crisis.
Why do we still distrust women leaders?
BBC News article about women's leadership.
COVID Monologues: Research Based Theater
These monologues were produced by Johns Hopkins University and funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The monologue "Angel," incorporated our research.
2021 Is a Tipping Point for Female Leaders
This Bloomberg article reviewed studies on women's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who won’t shut up in meetings? Men say it’s women. It’s not.
This Washington Post Perspective by Adam Grant reviews differences in leadership styles between men and women.
Data Shows Women Make Better Leaders. Who Cares?
This Forbes Editors' Pick article on leadership strategy showcases the strengths of women's leadership.
Contributors
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