Liswood: "Many of them articulated a different sense of their leadership style.. feeling that they didn't exhibit so much of that kind of command and control that we've historically seen in leadership…but more of a consensus," hear more: how do we get everyone involved in this thing, how do we go co-operatively go about this, who do we bring to the table, let's bring different people than have historically been at the table often that means grassroots organisations, ... so there was some of that, that notion that women are perhaps more consensus oriented.

Afshar: Women often develop the skills of listening and achieving consensus through their management of relationships within families. These abilities are very useful in government:
"I think because women have always had to negotiate within the household, within families. They have to accommodate the very conflicting needs of their children, and their husband so they actually learn to listen, prioritise and to deal with problems as they emerge."