The concept of feminine and masculine energies or principles has been around for eons, and is rooted in many spiritual traditions and societies, and all of us work with each of these energies at different times and in different contexts.   Our world has been long dominated by  principals that are much more masculine than feminine in nature, and  this has , created  an environment where women leaders have had to become “more like men”, and dilute or even suppress their feminine values in order to be successful.  There is often a  personal and professional cost to this ,  and underscores why many women often leave the business arena frustrated and drained.

To help clarify this concept further here are some of the  questions (With answers!) frequently asked regarding this topic.

What is the essence of feminine energy?

Feminine energy tends to be inner-directed,receptive, and nurturing.  It is often associated with  wisdom, intuition, creativity and compassion, and places a high value on connecting and relating with others.  It is often focused more on “being” than “doing”, and is concerned about being responsive to the needs of others., and has a deep belief in the value of others lives.

What is the essence of masculine energy?

Masculine energy  is associated with “doing” rather than “being”, and so  tends to be more  outer-directed into action.  It relates to  goal-setting, focus,,   analysis,  accomplishment , decisiveness and risk-taking, and at times, aggression and  dominance. It deals with strength of self, and has a deep belief in the value of ones own life.

Is one of these better than the other?

Absolutely not; both are needed for success and work most effectively together when they are balanced.

What does balanced leadership look like?

A balanced leader is one who can honor and utilize the feminine qualities while caring for and connecting with others, yet , at the same time be able to be confident and strong, and take ideas and feelings into action.

What do feminine principles have to do with business?

Historically, business has operated from the very masculine side of  “bottom line”, and prized power and authority over doing what is best for the people it is serving.  We take it as  “right” that reason and logical thinking, devoid of emotion, is the best decision making platform, that “strong” means decisive and  totally goal focused, while “weak” means nurturing,  emotional, or intuitive.   We know, however that how we view leadership is beginning to change, and  there is much more focus on feminine principles in business.  This is much needed to bring us back into balance, so that  we can operate in a manner that is good for all concerned, as well as being good for the bottom line.

How do I utilize my feminine energy to succeed in business?

The first step in this process is to examine  and re-design your own unproductive beliefs around the idea. How resistant are you to even hearing the word “feminine”?  What words do you associate with it?  How much have you “bought into” the masculine dominant approach, and suppressed your own inherent feminine power?

Even if you are outwardly “successful”, how do you feel about your value as a woman?

Secondly, it is about re-assessing how you lead, whether you are a business owner or  corporate leader and maximizing those  feminine qualities (without embarrassment!) to balance them with masculine energy by putting structures in place that will  lead to  super-productive outcomes.

What if I am not a woman?

Men need to utilize their feminine energy more than ever! Many of the top leadership authors are beginning to write about effective leadership that encompasses the values we are discussing here.  Men will find more success in all aspects of their lives  when they embrace these feminine values (again without de-valuing them), and recognize their critical importance to their success.