11/03/2026
HIS EDGE GETS HIM THE ROLE. HER EDGE GETS HER THE FEEDBACK.
The Hogan Development Survey measures 11 leadership derailers across thousands of executives. The gendered pattern is striking.
Women's most common derailers: caution, deference, emotional sensitivity, reserve. Patterns socialised from childhood. Be careful. Don't be 'too much'.
Men's most common derailers: boldness, risk-taking, charm, boundary-pushing.
Organisations consistently reward the second list with promotions — and penalise the first in talent reviews.
Same pressure. Different patterns. Only one gets ahead.
The filter isn't broken. It was built this way.
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