A few days ago a friend mentioned how she is an alpha. That set me thinking - why do we always revert to describing leadership traits by using commonly understood "masculine" terms that research shows might not be desirable even? How gendered the language is in leadership evaluations! Is Alpha even a good term to use?

In an article on "Coaching the Alpha Male" in HBR, the authors mention that the more pressure an alpha feels to perform, the more he tends to shift his leadership style "from constructive and challenging to intimidating or even abusive." On the positive side some of the words we can use are tenacious and driven. The research participants in a study in the Journal of Leadership Education expressed having to pay a price for their status and strong alpha female identity. They felt at times that they were negatively labeled and stereotyped. They also reported feeling forced to live up to very high expectations.

Can we think of different terms when we want to describe leadership for all and not just packs of men in the corporate world? We want leaders who share their leadership, are nurturing, subtle and connecting - calling them alpha could be limiting. When I look at my own leadership, I definitely do not want to qualify it as "alpha". Researchers have found that women tend to have a distinct leadership style that shapes how they run their teams. Specifically, these studies show that women tend to use what's called the transformational leadership style. Maybe we can call it "Delta"- being intentional and setting branches of leadership out in the organisation so that it becomes an ecosystem.

In the world of food, we often forget to highlight the "alpha" or the "hero" ingredient. I am a bengali and bengali cuisine is often misrepresented as a cuisine where we kill the vegetable or the fish/meat that is the hero of the item by frying it, dousing it in spices. But bengali home cooked food are based on family recipes and these can be mindful of the "alpha"ness of the main ingredient. So here's my super alpha vegetable melange for you all - Morich Jhol - an item where the vegetables are heroes and dominant, flavourful and yet subtle, maintaining individuality but also mixing well with each other in great team spirit. Coming to us from what used to be known as east bengal, this quintessential curry tastes great with white rice and in winter when seasonal vegetables are available.

You will need:

1/2 a brinjal, 1/4 of an orange pumpkin, 2 medium sweet potatoes/potatoes, 1/2 a cauliflower, 6-8 broad beans or sem,and 10-12 asparagus beans or borboti - cut into long, flat shapes.

Panch phoron seeds for tempering - cumin, fennel, nigella, wild celery or mustard as substitute, fenugreek - 1 tsp

Red chillies, whole - 2

Turmeric and chilli powder - 1/2 a tsp each - make a paste with a little water.

Green chillies - for seasoning, according to your appetite for heat.

Mustard oil - 2 tbsp

Heat 1.5 tbsp mustard oil in a deep pan till its smoking. Add the panch phoron and one red chilli whole. Fry the brinjal till it changes colour and keep aside. Add the potatoes and cauliflower and stir fry till they change colour. Add salt and cover and cook till they are slightly soft. Add a little water if they are turning brown but dont douse it in water. Add the beans and add the turmeric/chilli paste and add water to make a thin, tempered curry. Add the brinjals and add salt if you need more. Cook till all the vegetables are al dente, but not overcooked. Before taking off the heat, add slit green chillies and 1/2 a tsp of mustard oil.