It is amazing! It is amazing, after all the has been written and all that has been done by organizations and individuals regarding women leaders, that we still hear so much ambiguity in discussion about the lack of progress in the percentage of women leaders in business. We do know what the barriers are and we do know that if these barriers are addressed they turn into success factors.
- Number One- for a number of very tangible reasons many women do not have the same access to career development and advoacy as their male counterparts. In most cases this is not because women are consciously being held back. There are many subtle factors in play that we must understand to make progress.
- Number Two- Lack of Visibility. This visibility issue has two parts to it. There are not enough female role models and women leaders are often not as visible as male leaders. The impact of lack of visibility is a very significant and underestimated part of the problem.
- Number Three- Career & Work Life Integration. I believe this item is most misunderstood. Often, when working with organizations and women leaders there is a misconception that “work/life balance IS the entire story behind the barriers to the advancement of women leaders. This causes many issues in making progress. In addition, women themselves often hang onto this term “work/life balance” . In my personal experience as a female leader and in working with many female leaders – balance is the wrong goal. Creating a life vision that integrates work as part of a desired life plan is the goal.
Each of these barriers to success have been researched and addressed in many organizaations. Proven solutions for organizations interested in more diverse leadership teams and the maximization of all talent do exist. Solutions for individuals seeking a new or improved path to leadership do exist. Stay tuned to learn more indepth about each of these areas, why each is an issue and most importantly- what we can do about it.
M Bennett
MLBennett Consulting
mlbennettconsulting.com
