Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
Women now need to step into their rightful place in the corporate world.
After decades spent asking to be treated just like men, evidence shows that neurologically, biologically and organizationally women are profoundly different. Research strongly supports the economic advantages of women in leadership roles.
Historically many women acheived a seat in the boardroom or on management teams by “becoming men”. They learned to dress like men, act like men and even think like men hoping that no one would notice that they were women.
It is time for women to achieve and hold these positions by embracing their uniquely feminine qualities.
Women’s brains have a larger prefrontal cortex. This means that they are hard-wired for multi-tasking. This is different from their male counterparts and it is a great advantage for strategic planning and relationship management.
Women have more white matter which connects brain centers, meaning that women pick up signals across a broad spectrum of inputs. Men on the other hand have more grey matter, which localizes brain activity. This means that their strength is in focussing in-depth on a single point.
Women have more connectors between the right and left side of their brain allowing them to easily move from right brain to left brain or from analysis to creativity. This gives them a natural ability to analyze a problem using the left brain [logical center] and then move into their right brain [creative center] to construct a solution.With more connectors women are able to communicate this creative solution to the left brain and apply it to the problem at hand.
With a dominance of estrogen, women’s risk preferences are more stable than that of men. This is supported by John Coates of Cambridge University in his studies where he concludes that economic bubbles are a “male phenomenon”, a result of increased levels of testosterone that contributes to greater and greater confidence and appetite for risk.
It is also supported by a December 2009 article in Business Week stating that hedge funds run by women turned an annual rate of return of 9 percent between 2000, and 2008 versus 5.8% from funds run by men over the same period.
Micheal Ferrary, Ceram Business School, France says “The feminization of management seems to protect against financial turbulence.”.
We can use the results of brain science and comparative biological studies to formulate powerful management teams. By nature, women process information and manage relationships differently than men. Their multi-processing capabilities allow them to simultaneously factor in the needs of all participants and all aspects of a situation. Where men build relationships generally by doing things i.e golfing etc., women nurture relationships by connecting at a deeper intuitive level and developing a deep understanding of the other person.
Pepperdine University released results of 19 year study of 200 fortune 500 companies exploring the link between gender and profit. By every measure of profitability, equity, revenue and assets, companies with the best records for promoting women outperformed the competition.
A balance of masculine and feminine traits on corporate teams will maximize the economic growth of an organization.
Today 97% of Fortune 500 CEO offices and 85% of Fortune 500 board seats are held by men. This demonstrates just how out of balance the industry is. This distorted balance has resulted in financial disasters like we experienced in 2008.
Michael Lewis, Vanity Fair, speaking about the financial disaster of 2008 says that “one of the distinctive traits about Iceland’s disaster was how little women had to do with it.”
Women are hardwired to gather cues, assess the subtle elements of the case at hand, build and nurture relationships and most of all, listen to their intuition. When they attempt to “become men” they lose touch with the very elements that make them most authentic and most valuable. This leaves them unfulfilled and searching for more meaning. Many cope with anti-depressants – now prescribed at record levels. Others are opting out the corporate world in favour of staying at home or moving into more supportive environments. In a time of a drastically diminishing workforce we cannot afford to lose our resources.
Research reveals a strong correlation between corporate profits and the number of women on the management team. Profits increase with gender diversification and the market will favour companies that attract, develop and retain women in leadership positions.
McKinsey & Company have done some remarkable studies entitled “Women Matter”. Follow this link to review this fabulous work. learn more
I also want to credit a wonderful article in Avenue Magazine (April 2011 edition) for much information on “Women’s Work”
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Monday, June 20th, 2011
Breaking free from the conditioning of your early life and discovering your natural personality style will change your life. You will experience a level of passion and energy far beyond what you consider possible.
Each of us is born with natural gifts, effortless skill sets. Some of us are introverts, some are extroverts. Some prefer intuition while others prefer their 5 senses. You have a preference to go with your thoughts or your feelings. When you embrace these natural talents, life becomes easy. You will find yourself energized by your work, passionate about activities. You will go home at the end of the day with energy to spare. This will enhance all of your relationships from the workplace to your home.
Success does not come from pushing harder and faster along the wrong path. Success comes from embracing your nature and moving effortlessly through life.
By understanding your natural gifts and to what level these skills are developed, you find yourself with a clear road map to your success. You know where to focus your personal development efforts. You understand how to set personal boundaries. Your self confidence solidifies and your self-esteem soars.
This is the formula for success!!
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Friday, June 17th, 2011
Are you a “Swiss Cheese” communicator?
Many of our corporate and team leaders are extroverts. Extroverts, by nature, see the “big” picture. They are future focused – always wondering what something can become. This is a powerful trait for leaders but it comes with its own set of challenges.
Extroverts often assume that everyone sees their “big” picture and when it comes to communication they leave out many of the necessary details. This is often referred to as “Swiss Cheese Communication” for obvious reasons. So, as a leader it is important that you are cognizant of your directions, always checking and double checking to ensure that the holes are filled in.
Communication is a double edge sword. On the one edge, it is important to be clear about the message that you deliver. On the other edge of the sword, it is equally as important to ensure that the message is received clearly. With both sides satisfied, you have clarity in your communication and a far greater chance of getting your needs met.
The delivery side is obvious. With awareness, you can check your message and fill in any of the details to ensure clarity. The receiving side is more difficult. You need to be aware of the communication style of the person that is to receive the message. Are they an introvert or an extrovert? Do the like big picture stuff or are details like facts and figures necessary? Do they listen with their head or their heart? Are they direct and to the point or more creative?
With the communication equation complete – life is much easier.
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Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Our world is changing at a chaotic speed and people are called to take on an ever expanding set of roles. For women these changes have been profound. Many of us babyboomers were raised by stay-at-home moms. This set a standard that, consciously or unconsciously, we are held to. With the rise up through the corporate heirarchy, we have added a new set of roles without releasing the old ones. Being pulled in so many directions brings us to a level of stress that historically has not existed.
Anti-depressants are being prescribed at an all time high, and the recipients of these drugs are primarily women. This is not a path that can be sustained. Never before has there been such a need for clarity and direction.
Do you really know who you are at the very core of your being? What motivates you? What energizes you? What causes you stress and drains your energy? It seems like the most obvious thing in the world, after all we spend every moment of every day with ourselves.
When using the common personality assessment tools on the market today, studies show that 84% of the population do not know themselves well enough to profile accurately. In a world where upwards of 73% are extroverts, our school systems demand that, from a very early age, we sit still, be quiet, focus and listen for countless hours each day. As children, we are taught to be seen and not heard, not to speak unless spoken to. Such children are much easier to handle for over-taxed parents. All of this, conditions those brand new extroverts to abandon their nature and succumb to introversion.
Studies show that women, with a natural style of Commander, are subjected to the most conditioning of any group. Our society has not easily welcomed the assertive female. It opposes the stereotype of the compassionate, nurturing caregiver that society expects.
This conditioning is so profound that many of us believe ourselves to be introverts. The result of this state of affairs is that many of us extroverts, that have been placed safely in a box, are feeling stifled. We are antsy. We may have all of the trimmings of a happy life but underlying it all is a very strong sense that there is something more. What is it that we are missing? What more could there possibly be?
OUR NATURE!!! When we figure out who we really are, what our natural strengths are, what our weaknesses are, where we thrive and where we need support, life takes on new meaning. The energy to effort ratio is reborn, returning to us an abundance of energy for very little effort. This is when we embrace the full vitality that life has to offer.
It is through the discovery of our truth and the reclamation of our emotions, our intuition, our compassion and our power that we can rightfully and powerfully take our seat on corporate boards and management teams and bring about the changes that are so desperately needed.
“There is no greater power in this world than us, fully clothed in our own authenticity.”
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Thursday, April 15th, 2010
Emerging from the most profound global economic downturn since the great depression, corporations face a great opportunity for growth. As babyboomers prepare to retire, we are entering a time of rapidly diminishing human resources. Corporations need to change their focus to their people.
According to American Insights Workplace Survey, 54% of workers are planning to look for a new job once the economy improves. This number increases to 71% for workers under 30.
If this were to happen, it seems to me that corporations will just be trading one unhappy employee for another, and paying a lot of money to do it.
People are the soul of every organization. If all of the people involved in an organization are healthy, empowered, passionate and operating with personal integrity, then the corporation itself will be healthy, empowered, passionate and in integrity.
Gallup reports that only 26% of employees are actively engaged in their work, 55% are not engaged and 19% are actively disengaged. Therefore 74% of employees are unmotivated and uninspired.
How do companies engage their workforce. According to many studies, the problems in companies–and therefore the solutions–almost always boil down to individual managers and leaders. Leaders drive attitudes and attitudes drive performance.
“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves it is amazing what they can accomplish”
- Sam Walton
It is now time to develop our leaders. Managers must re-examine ideas about how business works and what drives it. Effectively competing in today’s business climate, requires managers to identify the emotional, psychological, and personal factors in themselves and their employees.
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