Masculine traits. Feminine traits. Can we please stop gendering leadership skills and focus instead on the human traits that will enable us to thrive?

Today, I speak with culture and leadership expert Moe Carrick about gender traits in leadership.  We discuss the traditional leadership narratives and the negative impact that has on both men and women in the workplace. We talk about the crisis for men and boys right now and why men are falling behind in all sectors. Moe shares the difference between emotionality and emotional intelligence and how we can help debunk outdated myths of masculinity. And she shares some great stories from past clients and what they were able to achieve as a leadership team in tough times when they embraced emotional intelligence and vulnerability. We dissect the current backlash toward more "masculine” energy in the workplace, which will only hinder our innovation and success, and the role women leaders can play to encourage healthier, more emotionally grounded leadership.

To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Gender has nothing to do with being a successful leader. While some traits may be considered more masculine or feminine in energy, skills are not gendered - they are all human traits.
• There is a difference between emotionality and emotional intelligence. Emotionality is unmetabolized emotional expression. Emotional intelligence is a source of data helping us navigate emotionality.
• Everyone needs to resist their own internal messaging about what good leadership looks like - it is not command and control or blaming and shaming. It is empathy and collaboration.

"If we're going to encourage male vulnerability and male emotions in the same ways we experience and give women permission to express feelings, we need to be prepared to not jump into fixing and solving what they're struggling with." —  Moe Carrick

Episode References:

• The Empathy Edge: Pam Fox Rollin: How to Grow Your Group Into a Team
• The Athena Doctrine By John Gerzema and Michael D'Antonio
• Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
• Richard Reeves: Institute for Men and Boys
• Suits

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About Moe Carrick, CEO and Culture and Leadership Pioneer

Moe Carrick is a pioneer in workplace culture and leadership, known for her award-winning frameworks that have helped companies like Nike, Reddit, and Amazon improve engagement, reduce burnout, and drive performance. A TEDx speaker and bestselling author, Moe’s work has transformed businesses across industries for over two decades. She specializes in creating environments where people thrive, rooted in her deep expertise in leadership, human connection, and innovative workplace practices.

Connect with Moe:

Moementum, Inc: moementum.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/moecarrick

Instagram: instagram.com/moecarrick

Culture Pulse Check: moementum.com/people-culture-pulse-check

WorkMatters Kit: moementum.kit.com/workmatters

TedX: Rethinking Women's Role in Defining Masculinity

TedX: Workplaces Fit for Humans

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