>Jen,
>
>A quick note: I grew up in Quincy, MA.
>
>My experience, both in Quincy and after having left, has been the polar opposite. I have found and continue to find (on average) that women are the most competitive, to the point of being counter-productive.
>
>That being said, I find this forum to be the least antagonistic I've ever been associated with. The competition here is generally healthy, everyone trying to help build the better mousetrap (moldy cheese or not).
>
>I'm not convinced that being a project leader has anything to do with gender, or even competition. I think your approach is best: learn to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of team members and let them run with their strengths and offer assistance with their weaknesses. The former requires trust. Trust is the first difficult part of being a manager. Delegation requires trust, without it, a team will fail. The latter requires patience, the second difficulty. A manager who trusts in the skills of the group and has patience with the weaknesses is the one who will succeed.

Where are you now? I've only been here about 7 years (I'm really a Brit) I live on Wollaston Beach.

My experience of working with groups of women & mixed groups w/ women leaders, as against mixed groups headed by men, has been that the former were more collaborative and collegial whereas the men in charge seemed to be more hierarchical.

This is a generalization, and based on my personal experience. I doubt if it holds true universally. There are too many variables. I personally work in a collegial, collaborative way and as such tend to see things or make them happen that way.

You're right about UT though -- very helpful friendly bunch we have here.

Jen