Final answer:
The correct option is B. Women who excel as executives tend to demonstrate adaptability, flexibility, and a balance of interpersonal and task-oriented leadership styles, along with transformational leadership qualities. They combine expressive and instrumental leadership, and traits like conscientiousness play a role in their success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Concerning traits of women who excel as executives, it is not accurate to say that they are always relationship-oriented or that they lack emotional intelligence. Instead, adaptability and flexibility are among the key traits that facilitate excellence in an executive role. Studies, such as those by Eagly and Johnson (1990), indicate that while there is a tendency for women to exhibit a more interpersonal style of leadership, they can also be task-oriented and demonstrate transformational leadership qualities. Such leadership includes being attentive to the organization's needs, anticipation of future challenges, and inspiring employees towards shared goals.
Prescriptive stereotypes, which influence perceptions of women as leaders, sometimes limit women's advancement; however, successful women executives often combine expressive and instrumental leadership. This combination is appreciated across genders according to Boatwright and Forrest (2000). Moreover, the Big Five personality factors like conscientiousness, characterized by high levels of organization, thoroughness, and precision, contribute to academic and professional success and are likely also present among successful female executives.