Trump II will make the future more Feminine. Here´s why.

 By Kirsten Stendevad, author and leadership developer

At this time in 2016, my book "The Future is Feminine – 7 Rules of the Game in 21st Century Leadership" was published by Gyldendal Business. The book was nearly drowned out by media coverage of the American presidential election – and by prejudices. As one media editor sighed: "We all know it's the psychopaths who become leaders." Indeed, the feminine future already seemed like the past when Trump was elected just two weeks later instead of Hillary. Nevertheless, the publication marked a shift in how we should understand leadership going forward. Regardless of the 2024 result, leadership IS moving away from an exclusively masculine focus on hierarchy and power, and toward a more feminine and holistic approach that insists on both mind and heart.

This perspective may seem completely unlikely after November 5th. "Now Trump, Putin, Orbán, Erdoğan, Modi and Xi can create their very own global boys' club, bound together by their shared contempt for women, democracy, human rights and (climate) knowledge. And correspondingly, a shared egocentric preoccupation with power, wealth and status," Uffe Elbæk sighed on LinkedIn.

But as the philosopher Hegel pointed out: evolution moves in thesis, antithesis, synthesis. When something becomes extreme in one direction, it naturally gives birth to the opposite pole.

The Rise of the Feminine Principle

Trump's second term occurs at a time when the feminine aspect on the planet – in all genders – is stronger than ever. Today there is much greater awareness that:

• Masculine/feminine is not determined by gender, but by energies/qualities
• Any system – biological, ecological or economic – that does not consist of an equal dynamic between the two universal aspects is on a destructive course
• The patriarchy as the dominant governance system for the last 2–5000 years has built societal structures based on the invisible "male default" and that we ourselves are filled with unconscious prejudices and inherited traumas from the imbalances we have been subjected to
• Masculine and feminine archetypes exist in both immature and mature versions, and that emotional healing and consciousness brings forth the healthy ones

The old leadership was yang-dominated: hierarchical, top-down and outside-in.

The new leadership is yin-dominated: circular, inside-out and bottom-up.

Signs of a More Balanced Future

Since 2016, there have been significant advances in areas that promote a more balanced future. Here are some examples:

Collective Intelligence: DEIB has moved from being a niche in companies' CSR strategies to becoming a central goal for most modern organizations. Research unequivocally shows that leadership with diversity and inclusion creates better results in hyper-complex contexts.

Parental leave and care muscles in men: More countries have expanded parental leave rights for men, and this cultural movement reflects a growing understanding that care is not just a virtue reserved for women – it is a human quality.

The MeToo movement: The global exposure of abusive behavior has resulted in abuse of power being sanctioned to a greater extent. MeToo has moved the boundaries and made it clear that toxic masculinity in the form of assault and disrespect cannot be tolerated. It is up to us to continue to insist on – and crack down just as hard on toxic femininity such as manipulation, backstabbing and poisoning.

Regenerative business models: More and more companies no longer focus solely on minimizing their negative impact on the planet. From agriculture to technology, there is increased awareness that we need to repair the damage we have caused. Robert Kennedy, part of Trump's staff, says for example that he will work to introduce regenerative agriculture.

Psychological safety and inner development: More companies understand today that when employees feel welcome to express their ideas without fear, they create stronger and more innovative teams. Well-being and personal development are now seen as integrated elements of success.

Mental health and well-being: We have also become clearer about how crucial mental well-being is. More people recognize the importance of being able to take care of themselves and each other. And acknowledge that we are only as strong, happy and resilient as our relationships.

Catalyst for Conscious Evolution

Instead of killing hope for a feminine future, old-fashioned leadership merely functions as a catalyst. Because pressure breeds counterpressure, we will see more citizens around the world take the future into their own hands and stand up for the values they want to live by. We are in an era where people at all levels take responsibility for healing – both of ourselves, each other and the planet.

Choosing the Feminine Hand

We all long for balance, harmony, and constructive communities. No president can change this need, which only increases in pace with unrest and turbulence. Every day we must choose whether we vote with our thoughts, feelings and actions for the old or the new, fear or trust, hate or love, giving up or action, pessimism or optimism. We can no longer bet on politicians saving the world, regardless of who they are. We all have the ability to contribute to a brighter future and therefore we must take the spoon in the feminine hand now.