Leadership Viewpoint

Women often position themselves as supporters of male leaders, assuming roles that subordinate them as businesspeople. Our strengths in ’soft skills’ are extremely helpful to these leaders, who receive the credit and promotions. In fact, our supportive roles often disguise the fact that many of these men are lacking in key management EQ skills. We believe that many women do this because they get a sense of comfort in staying where they are, whether for their family or balance-of-life issues. Men don’t generally think that way.

Women are rarely placed in ’stretch’ jobs because management wants to protect them from failure and women are still leaving the corporate world for one of two primary reasons:
1. We aren’t moving up.
2. We want or need more balance in life due to our extensive family responsibilities.

These premature corporate departures are leaving too few women inside corporate America as role models.

That said, excellent communication and supportive skills are increasingly important in business due in part to globalization. This bodes well for women. The corporate world will need to make room for greater freedom and creativity if it hopes to keep the best and brightest women for the long-term. Women will need to build bridges between where we are today and where we want to be tomorrow if the corporate landscape is to change.

Many women have difficulty asking for help and delegating. We need to overcome the “princess syndrome” and ‘demand’ what we want. Many women feel apologetic for taking time out of work for golf and other networking activities. Women feel that their time is better spent at their desk rather than out with business contacts. They couldn’t be more wrong.

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