Most of us would agree it takes about 30% of a (minority) group to move away from being regarded as the odd one (or two) out. Having at least 3 women on a board of directors or in a management team ensures they are looked upon as 'individuals' rather than as 'the woman' in the group. It's a thought I can relate to, it seems logical.
What I am having difficulty with, is assuming that a growing number of women in management teams and on boards will automatically change corporate cultures.
A culture has both formal and informal layers, the latter being far more important in defining how people work together in a company.
In our experience, predominantly masculine corporate cultures (and these are the ones you'll mostly find) have a tendency to produce clones and resist challenging the status quo.
A balanced corporate culture defines leadership both in terms of masculine and feminine qualities, and allows and stimulates both men and women to develop and show behaviour beyond their gender roles.
Changing a culture, a system of informal and invisible unwritten rules, is tough. It requires commitment of leaders and engagement of all. Will this automatically happen when more women enter top level positions? I don't think so.
Why? Firstly, I don't think it's fair to expect these women to change a culture singlehandedly while working very hard to establish and develop their positions in masculine corporate cultures. They have enough on their plate.
Secondly, I don't believe it can work as long as we keep on expecting women to change the system. If men don't buy into the advantages of a balanced culture, and a balanced personality, it will not happen.
Balanced leadership has a great deal to offer both to men and women in the workplace and in their personal life. I would argue that men could possibly benefit more from it than women... because they usually haven't been that encouraged or expected to develop their inner feminine qualities in order to get ahead.
Let's not wait another decade to start transforming corporate culture. Our companies urgently need to start developing their inner balance. It will benefit their creativity, flexibility, connectedness, and ultimately their relevance on the marketplace.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
We cannot put the responsibility for changing corporate cultures solely on the shoulders of women, but we can expect our female leaders to set an example that will help change business culture.
ReplyDeleteAll too often, women who assume power - whether in large corporations or within their own companies - still emulate the domineering, destructive leadership styles they were forced to navigate to craft their own careers.
Female leaders can and should be held accountable to "walk the talk" and display balanced leadership styles based on the respect, power-sharing, trust and empowerment they fought so hard for, and in doing so, they will help affect a shift within the corporate culture.
I agree completely Michèle.
ReplyDeleteIn history, most individuals or smaller groups trying to make cultural changes from within, have been 'killed' (figuratively and literally) if there is no support also from the dominant majority.
Another factor that helps is the increasing external pressures to change.
But the only human being open to be changed is a wet baby, a clever person once said.
And I agree, internal and external pressures combined with an increasing openmindedness from a part of the male majority in companies are according to me, the catalysts of change.