Author Archive

Every few years a prestigious organization publishes a study that points out what a strong impact women have on organizations and business results. We continue to hear variations on this theme, yet continue to behave in the same way.  Which is to say, we don’t do much about it.  Since we know that women in business make a difference, wouldn’t we want more women in our organizations? What about the following are we not taking to heart?  I believe that it’s time to look at the facts and decide what actions it’s really time to take.  The facts are compelling:

• FACT: 34% of private sector organizations have had their companies’ profits increased as a result of women’s engagement; another 36% expect that will happen; 58% expect those increases to come from creation of new markets or expansion of existing ones – McKinsey study The Business of Empowering Women 2010
• FACT: Fortune 500 companies with a higher percentage of women officers experienced, on average, 35.1% higher return on equity and 34% higher return to shareholders;  Fortune 500 companies with more women board directors outperformed others by 53%  – Catalyst, The Bottom Line, 2002 and 2007
• FACT: Companies with women leaders, esp. more women on boards, perform better: 53% get higher return on equity; 42% get higher return on sales; 56% get higher return on invested capital – Deloitte Women’s Initiative, 2009
• FACT: Women occupy 40% of all managerial positions in the U.S; but only 6% of the Fortune 500s top execs are female; and just 2% of those firms have women CEOs. Women’s leadership style—characterized by innovating, building trust and empowering followers—is ideally suited to today’s business challenges. – Harvard Business Review, Women & the Labyrinth of Leadership, 2007
• FACT: 56% of S&P 500 companies have no women and/or minorities in the highest paid executive positions – Calvert, Examining the Cracks in the Ceiling study, 2010

We are now crawling out of a global recession.  We are moving from operating principles of survival to those of growth.  Common sense would tell us that in order to make up for the lost time of the recession, we should seek better and faster ways to grow and achieve great results.  One such way is to have more women in leadership roles.  That’s why the time is NOW.

As this year enters the holiday season, the traditional time for reflection, finishing current projects and planning for new ones, I can’t help but reflect, too, on my core areas of passion and focus. So, here are a few of observations on this “still difficult” year… as well as a few wishes. The total an auspicious “7”, in anticipation of what is shaping up to be a fine 2011.

Observations –

#1 – Potential: Some of us have lost our appreciation for it. We’ve gotten bogged down in “things can’t get done just yet” or “They won’t let me do what I want to do.” If “they” are within your organization, remember that you are part of that team… so work to loosen up so that the organization is ready for you and others to contribute more, in accordance with your potential. It’s still possible (always was).

#2 – Cost Control: That’s not a totally bad thing. Who knows what would have happened had we (societally) not gotten so caught up in making and spending? Reining in costs and related behavior is simply sensible. It will serve us in good stead in tough or good times. As long as we haven’t “cut to the bone” and aren’t waiting to go back to rampant spending. Good sense is always good practice.

#3 – Leadership: It’s easy to say that “it’s never been more important,” so let’s put it slightly differently: “leadership behavior has never been more important.” It appears that organizations still rely more on those in positions of authority to demonstrate leadership, while anyone can demonstrate leadership behavior, title or not. And the collective power of lots of people showing leadership behavior would propel organizations ahead… and make the individuals within them more than just “engaged.”

#4 – Technology: More “wow” stuff than even last year, it seems; more information available and faster and anytime; more pressure to keep up. Moore’s Law is definitely at work! Technology is making us connect more with others, flattening our world, but also making each of us “rounder.” “Rounder” in terms of being able to take in more information and to be more full of knowledge. We know that technology is changing us; perhaps it’s time to take some control of the personal changes and our individual “roundness” in a flatter world.

Wishes:

#1 – More people will get their Mojo back

More of us will get back in touch with our ability to maximize our potential and our dreams, either entrepreneurially, in an organization, or in our personal lives. Whether its career aspirations or personal balance. We can use our collective positive energy to be in control and get farther.

#2 – Learning will be valued again

Many organizations, under pressure to be profitable or to survive, have reduced the opportunities for learning. And many individuals are feeling too inundated to slow down just a bit, now and then, to learn and think. Learning can be fun again. Ideas can be flowing.

#3 – Collaboration & Influence replace Command & Control

As leadership styles, in a more global world, command & control can backfire. They don’t allow room for understanding differences and including diverse points of view. Collaboration & influence do. Taking the time to lead that way is worth it.

What do you see and wish for?  Comments are welcome!  And here’s to the achievement of our wishes and collective success…