“Gender” Bias: It’s Not Just about Women

by | Sep 20, 2016 | balance of masculine and feminine, Balance of masculine feminine, collaborative leadership style, conforming and authenticity, Conforming to masculine, gender bias, Gender difference, gendered definitions of leadership, Masculine Feminine Difference, Strengths of women's leadership | 0 comments

When we talk about “gender bias,” we generally assume we’re talking about a bias against women. Not so fast. The issue is less about men and women and more about a preference for the masculine style. This affects men as well.

A Woman Presidential Candidate! How Gender Is a Factor

by | Jul 6, 2016 | double bind, double bind, feminine strengths, gender bias, Gender difference, gendered definitions of leadership, images of women, unconcscious bias, women aggressive communication, women and confidence, women masculine style | 0 comments

Having a woman set to represent a major political party in the race for the U.S. presidency is historical. I wish this could be the only way gender is a factor. How much of her low favorability ratings do you think are driven by unconscious gender bias?

A Woman Presidential Candidate: A Score for Gender Equity?

by | Jun 14, 2016 | Gender Balance, gender equality, gendered definitions of leadership, images of leadership, progress of women, women aggressive communication, Women in management, Women on boards | 0 comments

I got weepy when Hillary Clinton locked up the nomination for president, not for political reasons but because it is historical. I celebrate what it says about the progress of women and what it does to our images of leadership.

The Slow Pace of Gender Equality: What Is the Root Cause?

by | Jan 26, 2016 | benefits of diversity, bottom line value of gender diversity, gender balance, gender inclusive, gendered definitions of leadership, images of leadership, invisible mind-sets, invisible mind-sets, Masculine Feminine Difference, obstacles for women in business, Organizational culture, progress of women, unconscious bias, unconscious images, unconscous mind-sets, understanding difference, value of difference | 0 comments

Yes, there is progress in seeing more women at leadership levels in business; but the pace remains glacial. We need to understand the reasons at the deepest level – so we can pick up the pace and capture the known benefits. I was invited to post a blog on the London School of Economics Business Review. I used the opportunity to express my thoughts on the root cause. I hope you’ll read it!

Even His Daughter Didn’t “Fit the Picture”

by | Dec 9, 2015 | double bind, double bind, feminine leadership strengths, Gender Balance, Gender diversity, gender diversity in leadership, gendered definitions of leadership, images of leadership, unconscous mind-sets, women in leadership, women masculine style | 0 comments

Unconscious gender bias doesn’t’ appear exclusively in the corporate world. As illustrated by a true story a friend recently told me, it resides in small business, too. Our unconscious (and gendered) images of leadership are everywhere. In a family business, a woman who had worked for years was passed over when the founder retired — by a much less experienced, but male, relative. How can we broaden our “pictures” of leadership?