Self-sufficiency is a characteristic that influences the way women share risk as entrepreneurial leaders. Women play diverse roles in their professional and personal lives. Consider a woman who has a career, a family, and an elderly parent. Each role demands a high level of commitment. These roles do not always come with additional resources for delegation. Consequently, the woman who has to fulfill these commitments must do the job herself in many cases. This results in a level of self-sufficiency that is unique to women.
Women develop an acute sense of responsibility in these situations. This is an essential part of risk sharing. Entrepreneurs shoulder complete responsibility for their businesses. These leaders often have to step in and take up the slack in critical situations to ensure success. Women who succeed as entrepreneurs become proficient at delegating responsibility while holding themselves accountable for business results. They learn to share risk over time. Their self-sufficiency in meeting the challenges of their day-to-day lives provides a unique foundation upon which to build these skills effectively.
