As Canadians prepare to vote in a federal election during a period of global instability marked by trade disruptions, economic uncertainty, and armed conflict, the country’s political leadership remains notably traditional in one key respect: gender.

All of Canada’s major political parties are currently led by men, and Canada has never elected a woman as prime minister. Kim Campbell briefly held the office in 1993 after Brian Mulroney’s resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. Her short tenure ended with a historic electoral defeat for the Conservatives.

With global tensions rising and Canada facing unprecedented uncertainties, it may seem easy to overlook the lack of women on election ballots. But strong, inclusive leadership is a practical necessity in these uncertain times.

A growing body of research and real-world examples are challenging longstanding assumptions about what makes an effective leader. In times of crisis, traditional leadership styles marked by dominance and rigidity — usually associated with men — often fall short.

Instead, leadership styles marked by empathy, flexibility, and open communication — usually associated with women — are proving to be both effective and essential. This kind of leadership helps steady teams when emotions run high and the path forward is unclear — exactly the kind of qualities Canada may need in the near future.

One of the most persistent stereotypes in leadership is the idea that women are “too emotional” to lead effectively. But new research on leadership from the COVID-19 pandemic turns that assumption on its head.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Ivona Hideg and Winny Shen from York University and Tanja Hentschel from the University of Amsterdam explain their findings from a study examining how men and women leaders responded emotionally during the crisis.

They found that men in leadership positions were more likely to let emotions drive their behaviour during the pandemic than women were. In contrast, women leaders were more emotionally consistent, offering support for staff and refraining from lashing out.

Yet despite these findings, women are still underrepresented in leadership roles, especially in politics. The authors write: “When we consistently overlook those who lead with compassion, we risk losing out on exactly the kind of leadership that could help countries navigate the turbulent waters ahead.”