It’s time for leadership to be redefined; times are changing and “natural leaders” should recognize this. What is a “natural leader” anyway? Interestingly enough, I read an article in the Business News Daily that discussed research from Northwestern University that concluded once again that, “Society doesn’t think they (women) are natural leaders, and doesn’t like it when they act like they are”. In this article once again, “natural” leader is defined as the kind of masculine energy that has, “substantial power and authority”…. that is, “assertive and competitive”. I’d say this is not so much as “natural” as it is just one paradigm of being that is rooted in a historical, social way of thinking. It time we change the definition of what a “natural leader” is in the first place. This type of “power over others” leadership is based in fear and command/control. It does not allow for vulnerability and tends to squash the voice of others. Oh, it has its place, in let’s say the military where life and death is on the line. Also, of course when used with awareness and sensitively, “authority” can be needed in certain decision making situations, so I’m not suggesting there is never a place for a leader’s need to make hard decisions. However, in daily living, in order to come from a place of authenticity and to engage the heart of others, a healthy level of transparency and vulnerability is required. I contend that one reason why women do not “naturally” gravitate toward the present model of hierarchical “competitive” leadership is because it is not “natural”. Actually “natural” would include a more holistic way of being that would allow for humanity as a whole to access both sides of their brain in an integrated fashion. If human beings, both genders included, would access and use the right-brain hemisphere qualities of connection, collaboration and compassion, “natural” leadership could indeed emerge. What we currently call leadership does not inspire the best in people as much as it does compliance and conformity. Tell me how is this model going to work in this time of 21st century change where we need innovation and a courageous, autonomous and purpose driven workplace? It does not. In fact, all of that “competitive and substantial power” type of leadership ultimately only leads to the kind of employee disengagement that a recent Gallup Poll illustrates that is reported to be found in as much as 70% of the workforce. As Patrick Lencioni teaches in the “5 Dysfunctions of a Team”, lack of trust, due to hiding behind invulnerability is one reason why there is so much lack of team alignment and engagement in the company vision. Also, we have a crisis in Washington in our government that nearly created the first default in the national budget in US history due to all of the clamoring for this distorted ego “power”. This power is not getting much done there at all. What we need is a model of leadership that woman tend to bring to the table. One where collaboration is respected and ownership and alignment can thrive. Of course, men have access to their right brain hemisphere qualities also; they just need to use it more often. When a leader walks their talk, comes from a heart of mutual respect for others and uses principles that are timeless, such as integrity, courage and wisdom, team members (not children being told what to do) will be inspired and encouraged to speak forth their ideas without fear of disrespect, humiliation or reprimand. Now, this would be “natural leadership”. It’s a ridiculous discussion at this hour in history to be stereotyping “women” as not natural leaders. Women have access to both masculine (hopefully they will use wisdom and call on the healthy characteristics/qualities of masculine instead of ones that operate in fear and thus uses “force” as power) and feminine qualities of their brain/humanity. Masculine does not mean “male” and feminine does not mean “female”. They are both qualities of our left and right-brain hemispheres respectively and it is stereotyping to associate them with gender in the first place. Many men and society at large need to start taking notes on how to access more of their feminine right brain and use their natural creativity/innovative gifts, intuition, and relationship/collaborative abilities. The old hierarchy model is outdated and hopefully doomed as it limits the true potential of individuals in the workplace and I believe people are tired of this out of balance leadership model. Collaborative leadership does require a self-aware and courageous leader. One who is willing to deal with their own “blind spots” and practice what they talk about with integrity. This takes courage and is true “power”. Yet, the pay off for female and male leaders and society at large is huge and can accelerate innovation and possibility for a healthy, productive and fulfilling workplace. Collaborative, “natural” leadership is an idea whose time has surely come.