Unleashing potential: how alpha female status shape extra-role performance across life's stages and marital roles

Abstract

Purpose

The present study examines the interplay between age, marital status, alpha female status and various adaptive performance dimensions among a cohort of 380 female professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a positivist approach to collect and analyse the data, utilizing appropriate statistical techniques to explore the relationships between the variables of interest.

Findings

The study elucidates the significant role of alpha female status in predicting adaptive performance. It finds that alpha females possess distinct competencies, particularly in learning and training, indicative of proactive behaviour and self-efficacy. While older participants tend to demonstrate higher performance levels, the study reveals no significant correlation between age and alpha female status, suggesting that leadership traits may develop independently of age. Furthermore, marital status exerts a modest influence on adaptive performance. The interplay of age and marital status significantly affects adaptive performance, potentially due to the Cumulative Advantage Paradigm, which is the accumulation of advantages or disadvantages throughout an individual's life course.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of how demographic factors converge to influence adaptive performance in professional settings. It highlights the importance of recognising and nurturing alpha females in organizations and considering the interactions between age and marital status when designing career development programmes and support systems.

Citation

Palo, S. and Menon, S.R. (2024), "Unleashing potential: how alpha female status shape extra-role performance across life's stages and marital roles", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 43 No. 6, pp. 807-832. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMD-05-2024-0176