Why More Women in the Board Room Is Essential to Innovation

This article questions why there is a lack of women board members in many companies and why women are essential for a company’s success.  First, it pointed out that women make up more than half of the workforce.  So to exclude women from the board can mean that the company may not be seen as a place that welcomes women at all. In turn, that has a direct effect on the company's competitiveness.  Second, women are decision makers. Women have a perspective that can alter the development of a product or a service.  Put women in executive roles and board positions and you can see how their perspectives may open new markets.  Lastly, a woman joining a board of directors can have an effect on the men. They will be less likely to make sexist remarks and jokes.  Shirley M. Hufstedler, an experienced corporate board member, observed that female board members usually understand, better than men, how to appeal to women as consumers and as employees.  Also, because women are acculturated differently from men, they tend to listen more and see problems and solutions differently from their male colleagues.  She feels in many ways this expands and enhances board discussion and deliberation. 

Perhaps all of this is due to the fact that women tend to be more transformational leaders than men are.  They are very attentive to others needs and they can motivate others to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the team or organization.  This is a very effective form of leadership and can yield great outcomes.  Most women have strong ideals and are very competent, and those are important qualities to have as a transformational leader.

The bottom line of this article is that companies with more women in executive positions tend to have higher profits.  In fact, a study done by Roy Adler showed that "the companies with the highest percentages of female executives delivered earnings far in excess of the median for other large firms in their industries."  In your opinion, do you feel that more women in the board room can lead to better innovation and success for a company?

Posted by: Amanda Goetz

http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2011/03/31/31readwriteweb-why-more-women-in-the-board-room-is-essenti-91468.html

McKinsey: Improve Training for Female Execs

                A recent report on women in leadership was published in the latest edition of McKinsey Quarterly stating that insufficient training and inattentive career development are the major contributors to the lack of female executives worldwide.  One interesting fact this article stated was that only 11 Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs, down from 15 in 2010. 

McKinsey suggests that women would benefit from more targeted leadership training and gain as much hands-on experience as possible for gaining a top level management position.  Robust official training programs will help funnel female employees into senior roles and encourage more to follow in their path.  They can also help place women on management tracks early. 

If organizations do implement a training program, it may also help promote leadership effectiveness and reduce the leadership gap.  Organizations should look into a variety of factors to help support the rise of female leaders on an individual, interpersonal, societal, and organizational level.

Unfortunately women tend to have a mid-career burn out from outside pressures like motherhood, the article stated.  This is an example of a human capital difference that women face often according to the leadership labyrinth.  The report states that without these support systems in place, "barriers become insurmountable" for working mothers and companies can forfeit some of their best talent.   Do you think that putting in training programs will help women develop and get over the next hurdle? 

Posted by: Amanda Goetz

http://bx.businessweek.com/women-in-leadership/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Fc.moreover.com%2Fclick%2Fhere.pl%3Fr4478303664%26f%3D9791

Shattering the glass ceiling: Six ‘postwomen’ felicitated for exceptional services

As I came across this article and began to read more into it, I started to learn that in many other parts of the world women attain very few positions in the postal business.  India is one part of the world where postal positions are held by men, but India is also trying to shatter the glass ceiling by honoring those few women who serve their communities. This article talks about six women employees at a post office who hold a few different positions in the postal area. These women were honored last month during the International Women’s Day by Mayor Shraddha Jadhav. During this ceremony Mayor Shraddha was able to thank and honor the six women for providing such an excellent service in the positions that they hold.

            The article also talks about how a post woman (Akansha Ashok Redij), one of the six women honored during this ceremony, went through a very harsh time before the community got to know her. For example, when she first started to work for the post office and delivering mail to the community she was assigned, many used to be rude and shut the door on her face because their first thought was of a saleswoman. Akansha would have to ring the bell twice and inform the tenants that she was a post woman and she had mail for them. She also stated that it did not take long before her assigned community got used to and acknowledge that women can also deliver mail just as well as men do. Akansha also states that since her community got used to her delivering their mail, they have become nicer and thank her and appreciate what she does. For example, one day she received a thankful letter from a male receiver whose mail had been missing and Akansha was able to find it and deliver it. The receiver’s letter showed her how much respect she had gained from the receiver.

            Another worker also says that she has gained respect from her community and that it is that respect that keeps them working hard in a job that, traditionally, was held by men. Sandhya Mohan Sana, states that many community members offer her water and tea when she delivers their mail and shows her respect by calling her “post madam” and telling her how much they appreciate her job as a post woman. I believe these community members are encouraging these women to keep doing what they are doing, which it was believed to occur less for women than men. Also, I believe the community is doing the right thing by thanking and honoring these hard working post women because it is not easy to show the community that women can also do the same job as men can in these kinds of countries were males hold this jobs. I think these six females are helping India shattering the glass ceiling in the postal business by gaining the respect from their communities and decreasing the stereotypes in this business. Do you think that the community did the right thing by honoring these six women? Do you think in the future more countries such as India will still have a low number of post women?

To read more go to: http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/shattering-the-glass-ceiling/article_19871

Posted by: Hugo Sanchez

Lawsuit against Wal-Mart could propel women’s rights in the work force

This article is talking about International Woman’s Day, which is claimed to be a commemoration of how far women have come in our male dominated world.  It also is a reminder for women that they still have a long way to go.  It stated how in the U.S.  Women have broken through the glass ceiling in some ways.  It talks about how women can work where ever they want.  It also talks about how much more independent women are allowed to be, they are not looked frowned upon if they are a single mom or don’t have a husband.  Many other countries celebrate these same rights with the Americans, but there are other places around the world that are still fighting for these rights.  It stated that in America women take for granted what women in other countries still don’t have.

It later goes on to talk about how in America there are still some places that females still struggle.  There has been an ongoing investigation and legal issues as female employees from many Wal-Marts have been coming out with claims that Wal-Mart has been discriminating against them because of gender.  They claim that they are being looked over for pay raises and promotions.   I feel that one reason women may be looked over in pay raises is that they may not always be as aggressive as the men in asking for them. Women are trying to make this situation a class-action lawsuit.  I think that it is great that these women are sticking up for themselves, it states in the book and it is almost a stereo type that women are less likely to self promote and negotiate then men.  So I think it is good that these women are using their rights and freedom to make a stand.  Wal-Mart claims that they have had anti- discriminatory programs in place for a long time and that this is not true.  The article says that this lawsuit could potentially join the ranks of other landmark gender equality, a shot heard around the world.  In other words if this case can do it, pull off suing one of the largest businesses in the nation so can other groups such as racial minorities.  I do think that this is very true.  If these women can pull this off they are taking a huge step to over come the glass ceiling.  I do however feel that this one lawsuit will not likely have that huge of an effect on America.  I think that Wal-mart has so much money it will hardly put a ding in them and everything will stay the same.  Sure the women may get some money but that’s all.  What do you think?  Do you think that if these women win this Wal-mart law suit, it could make a difference for race and gender everywhere in the US?  Do you think it will be over passed and things will remain the same?  I think if women stand up for themselves and put themselves out there they will be able to succeed just as well as any male.  If she doesn’t do that though, it is not going to be handed to her like it may be for some males.

-Kayla Samolinski

For full article visit: http://www.thelamron.com/opinion/lawsuit-against-wal-mart-could-propel-women-s-rights-in-the-work-force-1.2147958

Gender Balance Needed for Women's Coaches

This article talks about how women are not receiving the same chances as men are in NCAA athletic coaching.  Men even more than ever are taking over most of the jobs to coach women student athletes.  In 1972, the year Title IX was enacted, more than 90% of the head coaches of intercollegiate women's teams in all sports were women, according to the Women's Sports Foundation. In 2006, that number plummeted to 42.4%. In collegiate women's soccer, specifically, it's now just under 30%, down from 33% in 1997.  This change in my opinion is shown by the fact that now women’s sports are beginning to become more appealing which means more money for coaches.  The more money is bringing in more men and making them more likely to take those positions.  Why is a female dominated job in the 70’s becoming a male dominated one now in your opinion?   

The one thing that I found to be interesting was the fact that the article brought up the fact that the NFL is required to interview at least one African American to give them the opportunity to receive the head coaching position.  Do you think that this would be something that would help women’s chances in receiving head coaching positions like it has in the NFL?

I feel and the article does agree that women really are better at coaching women.  They know how to deal with girls.  They have more emotional intelligence and I feel that it is important for girls with a great deal of emotion to be coached by someone that is more likely to relate to them.  This is a major key element that men just do not have as much of as men do.  But even with these facts this article still shows that women are not moving up the labyrinth but are moving backwards.   

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/brennan/2007-10-24-brennan-column_N.htm

Posted By: Jim Link

The Obstacles of Female Leadership in Schools

As I was reading through this article on the obstacles of female leadership in schools, I was realizing that there are a lot of leadership issues that take place at school for women that I had not known about.  The article goes on to explain that female educators experience the same kinds of issues as other women in different business careers.  The two main categories where women are facing leadership issues in the school is career problems, and the problems that women face in their own classroom relating to leadership.

It is also stated that female teachers are not often taught about the issues they will be affronted with before they start teaching.  This means that these women are forced to handle problems as they arrive rather than being prepared for any issue.  There are many issues in the classroom that women could be facing.  The article also states that teachers may have to try unique approaches for running their classrooms.  I would believe that many teachers have to use a situational approach to their leadership due to the fact that there are many issues that can arise.   To be an effective leader requires that a person adapt his or her style to the demands of different situations.

It is stated that older children, especially boys, mainly challenge a women’s authority in schools.  In order for female to cater to these individuals and gain the trust of these students, they may have to use one of the four leadership styles from the situational approach.  One individual may need the coaching approach because the student may need a lot of direction on what to do as well as a lot of help and support.  Another student may need a directing style because they work better when there is a goal in place and only need little supervision while trying to complete a goal.

I believe that women may feel that they are not taken seriously in the classroom and feel a lack of authority by the students because they are female.  However, women teachers may simply be using the wrong approaches when teaching and disciplining their students.  The students may not trust the teacher and feel that the teacher cares about them.  It could simply be that women teachers are not taking the time to find the correct style of leadership to use on each child in different situations.

Do you believe that women leaders in the classroom are not taken seriously by male and older students due to the fact that women are not using the right leadership styles?  Or do you simply believe that women are not taken seriously simply because they are women and due to the labyrinth and the gender role differences?  What would you suggest women leaders to do in order to be taken seriously in the classroom and be better prepared for different issues?

To view entire article click here

Posted By: Laura Whisenhunt

High Turnover among Female Executives

This article talks about how female executives are twice as likely to depart from their jobs voluntary or involuntary compared to their male counterparts.  This stat is a major factor when it comes to women being able to take over top positions in company's.  It is also probably why women have not received the same amount of attention when it comes to hiring them to top potions.  "Becker-Blease said research has shown that women are more likely to leave a job due to domestic or social responsibilities than men, which could explain the higher voluntary departure rate."  This makes employers job very hard when knowing that women might get up and leave earlier than any man and it affects their ability to break the labyrinth.  

“Recent research offers some intriguing evidence suggesting that while the market may seem to perceive women as less capable business leaders, the disparity isn’t really about gender, but about the experience those women bring to the table,” Becker-Blease said.  This quote shows that in order for women to really break through the labyrinth they need to find away to become more experienced in their fields whether that i through more education or through more work in their positions.  

The other main point that the article brings up is that women really do benefit from other women in top positions within the company. My opinion for this is that women that are shown to do well within the company allows the company to put more trust in them because like the article states they are shown to have more experience.  The more experience anyone shows whether it is a man or a women definitely benefits the gender within the company.  Why do you think women benefit more when women control top positions.  Also do you think that companies are being more discriminatory towards women because of their type of leadership skills or do you think it has to do with their level of experience.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/10/05/high-turnover-among-women-executives/19179.html

Posted By: Jim Link