by Caroline | Mar 5, 2014 | appreciating difference, bottom line value of gender diversity, business value of gender diversity, comfort principal, diversity and inclusion, gender diversity in leadership, gender inclusive, Inclusive culture, Inclusive leadership, invisible mind-sets, obstacles to gender diversity, Organizational culture, Sheryl Sandberg Lean In, unconscious mind sets, women and ambition, Women in management |
McKinsey & Company issues an annual report called “Women Matter.” McKinsey has researched the bottom-line value of gender diversity, what has been effective in successful gender diversity initiatives – and what is still in the way. One of the things in the way is “unacknowledged mindsets.” “Cultural factors” are a key reason so few women reach the top. Culture reflects the “mindsets” of an organization’s leaders. The key to creating an inclusive culture is bringing unconscious mindsets to consciousness so attitudes and behaviors shift. In our workshops, we help bring awareness to those mindsets – the double bind, the comfort principle and unconscious images.
by Caroline | Jan 30, 2014 | ambition, authenticiy, balance of masculine and feminine, feminine leadership strengths, feminine strengths, gender inclusive, gender stereotypes, Inclusion, Lean In, Masculine Feminine Difference, Sheryl Sandberg, women and ambition, women and confidence |
In her book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg points to internal barriers that hold women back. Many are just “feminine” ways. Women are wired and acculturated to value relationships more than status and to avoid bragging. This looks like lower ambition. Women tend to speak more humbly; this looks like lower confidence. I agree that, to make it to the top, women must demonstrate ambition and confidence. But my hope is that one day leaders will understand and appreciate feminine as well as masculine style and see leadership in both.
by Caroline | Mar 26, 2013 | Gender diversity, Lean In, Men and women at work, Sheryl Sandberg, Sheryl Sandberg Lean In, understanding difference, women and ambition, Women in management |
I respond to a football analogy about Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In. My brother suggested most women don’t want to be at the top in the business world. Like a “tight end” on a football field, they should be happy with their role and not worry that they are not the quarterback. The point of Sandberg’s book is that IF a woman wants to reach the top, she should lean in. My point is that the playing field is not level. Lots of women who are qualified to be quarterback are held back and hold themselves back.
by Caroline | Mar 12, 2013 | ambition, conforming and authenticity, Gender difference, Gender diversity, Inclusive culture, Inclusive leadership, Masculine Feminine Difference, Sheryl Sandberg Lean In, women and ambition, Women in management |
Sheryl Sandberg goes beyond the issue of “having it all.” She suggests that women need to demonstrate more ambition. To avoid stereotyping, I suggest the question is whether women in general are less ambitious or express it differently. Sandberg is observing differences in how the prototypical male and female express ambition. The masculine way is to compete and win. Women in general are less likely to ask for what they want; they wait to apply for a position until they feel fully qualified; they have a harder time taking credit for their successes. We can coach women to appear more ambitious in the masculine way. I would like to see equal focus on coaching leaders to recognize and appreciate differences.
by Caroline | Oct 2, 2012 | ambition, Balance of masculine feminine, Difference, Gender Balance, gender communication, Gender difference, gender inclusive, Leveraging Difference, Masculine Feminine Difference, Power, women in leadership, Women in management |
Is one reason that women aren’t proportionally represented at the leadership level in business because they lack the ambition or interest in power to be there? This question was debated a decade ago. Some women have ambition and want power in the masculine way. Other women simply define these terms differently. Typical female behaviors of avoiding taking credit or tooting her own horn mask ambition. Women who do appear ambitious are often caught in the “double bind.” To achieve gender diversity in leadership, we must broaden our definitions of “power” and “ambition.”
