By Frances Hesselbein 

In yesterday's USA TODAY article, "Female CEO's See Good Year," Carol Meyrowitz, 55, CEO of retailer TJX Cos., said "Good leadership is about the person and has little to do with gender." 

When the great Duke Ellington wanted to describe a remarkable artist or an extraordinary work, he would say two words, "beyond category." The phrase describes his own work as well -- and offers a fitting definition of success in today's world. Ellington's words came to mind when I read Ms. Meyrowitz's words.

Duke Ellington's words also came to mind a few years ago when a group of visiting management graduate students asked my view of gender and organizational leadership.

Over luncheon, several graduate students who were women challenged: "Why are you the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Drucker Foundation -- not the chairperson or chair?" I replied that this was simply a personal preference, that I consider the word chairman a title derived from human, not man. On any board I chair, I am the chairman.

I use this rationale: Suppose there is a successful, well-led corporation, and I am chosen to follow its successful chairman who is a man. The first change I make is not going to be changing my title to chair or chairperson. If I assume the position, I assume the title. I acknowledged to the visitors that this is a view not commonly held -- but that my preference is right for me and for my philosophy and leadership style.

As leaders who are women, we begin by acknowledging that we bring a special dimension to the work of our organization. Our contribution to furthering the mission is enhanced by our gender -- any effective leader brings her life experience and point of view to bear. Diversity of gender, race, culture, and background in our leadership teams strengthens and enriches our organizations. But that is not the reason we, as leaders who are women, do what we do. The mission that defines why we do what we do has no gender.

Peter Drucker urged leaders to "focus on task, not gender." That advice serves us well. A focus on task is an imperative for all leaders who are working to build the richly diverse, inclusive, effective organization. Our increasingly diverse business, government, and social sector institutions reflect a sea change in American society, and our leaders' task is to make these institutions effective, the organizations of the future.