IF you thought that you could manage something better than your husband or a male coworker, you are probably right!

According to an Australian survey released on Monday, women make better business leaders than men in all but two areas of management.

But the survey also says men have the upper hand when it comes to focusing on the bottom line.

Data collected from 1,800 Australian female and male Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and managers found women exhibit more strategic drive, risk taking, people skills and innovation and equalled men in the area of emotional stability.

But men came out on top when it came to command and control of management operations and focusing on financial returns.

The survey, conducted for the Steps Leadership Program by employment consultancy firm Peter Berry Consultancy, found women were more likely to take a chance with their ideas and challenge the status quo.

"Women are ambitious, bold, mischievous, colourful and imaginative. They are more confident, competitive, visionary and have a stronger presence," Gillian O'Mara, general manager of the Steps Leadership Program, said in a statement.