Women Leaders in South African Business: Coping through Personal Leadership

While structural barriers were addressed by researchers, little attention has been given to the personal challenges women as leaders face. This study explores women's perspectives on leadership and how they cope through personal leadership. A need was expressed to include more feminine qualities in the definition of leadership and the unique qualities and styles that it is believed women bring to the leadership equation. Spiritual wellbeing was observed in the manner in which the women anchored their lives in religion and spirituality, the self-awareness they displayed about themselves at midlife and the meaning they find in life and in their work. The women empowered themselves through their mental wellbeing which was evident in their definitions of success, resilience, perseverance and stress management. Physical wellbeing was conveyed in the manner the women included exercise and healthy eating habits in their lifestyles to conserve their energy. Finally, the women reported on their emotional wellbeing by voicing the importance of emotional intelligence to create stable relationships and supportive networks.