Authenticity is the key differentiator between a good female CEO and a great one, according to a study conducted by RHR International, an organization of management psychologists. The organization, which recently interviewed 65 top women business leaders, describes authenticity as a female leader bringing her core values, beliefs and her "full self" to how she operates as a leader. This integration is evident to those who see her in action.

To achieve this, women leaders must first gain support within the organization, then take business risks and, finally, enact change.

Through its research, RHR uncovered the following five actions of successful woman leaders. These are:

• Adapts internally: Incorporates what is positive and be resilient when it comes to things that aren't.
• Adapts externally: Quickly picks up accepted norms of an organization, such as communicating directly, challenging authority, competing, displaying passion and handling conflict.
• Leverages Support: Enlists the support of her organization (e.g., honest and direct feedback of her leadership style, mentoring on navigating informal networks, individualized career path and transitions)
• Takes risks: Takes risks in visible roles--with the support of an internal champion.
• Enacts change: Leads large-scale change, pushing the envelope of the organizational norms with her influence and credibility.--Eve Gumpel