A Study Shows Women are Harming Women!   

We’ve all encountered a Queen Bee. We know of that woman who wants to be the only female working with men. That’s one rationale. The other one I suspect is that she’s thinking, “I had to work twice as hard as a man to get here . . . so I’m making sure you don’t get it any easier!” If you’re working for a Queen Bee, that’s tough, really tough. She’s a gatekeeper to the glass ceiling—she demands a higher performance from a woman than from a man.   

 The Queen Bee: Is A Woman Holding You Back? [5:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Collaboration For Good Leadership
 
 
I’ve been receiving requests for more information on leadership styles for women. Of course, the same leadership style will work no matter if you’re a man or a woman, but the questions have been phrased to indicate many women are not comfortable with the autocratic style of leadership, where the leader dominates the team with a one-sided approach to reach an objective.
 
If you’re not comfortable with that style, there are other choices. Collaboration is one that many women tend toward—what I mean is they can be really, really good at it!

 Leadership Using Collaboration [6:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Mars-Venus Stereotypes Are Barriers To Women’s Advancement?
 
“Men and women aren’t planets apart, but their stereotypes sure are!”
                                                                        —Nancy Clark
 
 
In the recent past you could attract a lot of attention by saying women are different, very different, from men. It was a quick jump to assume that women are nurturing, and that maybe men are not—or that women show empathy, and men do not. It has become a sad state of affairs. As with all trends, this one went too far and now it’s time to reconsider.

 Mars-Venus Stereotypes Are Barriers To Women’s Advancement?: Play Now | Play in Popup

Do We Still Have A Glass Ceiling Because of Stereotypes?   

I think we have a problem at work, but just in case I’m exaggerating, I’ll give you the statistics and let you decide.  In the beginning, or at least for a very long time, women have been 51% of the population. In 1950 women made up only 29% of the workforce. Today women are half our workforce (46.5% to be exact). Half of our midlevel managers are women—that sounds fair to me. But, and here’s the big but, women are only 15% of the top two tiers in the Fortune 500. So let’s do the math: Men are 85% and women are 15%. That’s a huge difference—discrepancy—handicap. At least in my mind it is. How do you feel about this? (Your comments are important to me.)  What do you surmise is the reason for the 85-15 Handicap? 

 How Bad Is The Gender Gap At Work? [7:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Is She Too Strong? Too Pushy?      

Instead of a lawsuit, I say shine a spotlight on double standards in the workplace. People will decide what’s not acceptable behavior. Public opinion brings rapid change, and that’s what I anticipate.

 Double Standards For Men And Women? [5:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Studies Show Areas Where Women Excel   

  Comprehensive management studies are showing women outscoring men in many categories. Of course, my first questions are: Which categories? And why hasn’t this translated into the top two tiers of management?

 Proof That Women Make Great Managers [6:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Is Competition Unfeminine?   

There are evolutionary reasons for how women handle competition and there are cultural reasons. Nancy Clark discusses both. Research shows that women tend to shy away from competition when men are included. Does that mean women are not as competitive as men? No, it doesn’t. It means we’re letting the stereotype, It’s Not Feminine To Be Competitive, influence our behavior.

 Are Women As Competitive As Men? [5:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

How To Improve Your Interviewing Skills 

Whenever I speak to large audiences, I’m always amazed at the surprised reaction I get when I say you should be looking around for a new position without waiting for a year to pass. Men jump around from company to company more than women do. This is one reason for the size of the gender wage gap. Don’t hesitate to take interviews. Here are the six steps you need to take.

 How To Improve Your Interviewing Skills [5:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Power or No Power Creates Stereotypes, Not Nature

Sometimes we hang onto stereotypes and they act like anchors, sinking us in the workplace. For instance: Women are nurturing (men are not?) and men are competitive (women are not?). In the Nature-Nurture debate I acknowledge there are some traits you’re born with, but what’s more important is what happens after that. My take on it is that the difference between who has power and who does not is what’s forming our stereotypes—not nature.

 The Stereotype Myth [5:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup