Be Yourself & Be Fair

Originally published on http://zoefoodsblog.blogspot.com.

I just read a blog on the Wall St. Journal site about “The Benefits of a Feminine Leadership Style” (http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/06/09/the-benefits-of-a-feminine-leadership-style/#comment-14448). Here are my thoughts:

I have worked for both “good” and “bad” bosses of both sexes and thus, don’t think it is gender that makes someone effective or successful in managing other people. So what does make someone a good manager of people? From my experience it is whether they have the capability to be fair when put to the test, and if they are authentic.

In the eight years I have been running Zoe Foods, an all natural foods company that produces cereals and bars, I am sure that I have made all types of management mistakes. But, the two things that I have always done is to be myself and make every effort to be fair. As a result, I believe I have earned the respect of my employees and shareholders, and if the company can produce excellent products that live up to their claims, the company too, will be successful.
As a mom and an entrepreneur, I find the same is true with my family and children, as at work. The main difference - my employees don’t have tantrums - usually