In
the past 50 years, many changes have occurred to shape the workplace into what
it is today. The civil rights movements of the ’60s and ’70s transformed voting
rights and salary laws in the workplace, but those weren’t the only changes.
After
World War II, women entered the workforce and it was clear that this wasn’t
going to change. Unfortunately, those in leadership have not kept up with the
changes — the “private men’s club” from hundreds of years ago still sets the
rules.
Studies
show that both men and women exhibit leadership effectiveness, yet the
stereotypes persist that leaders are male and that the acceptable
characteristics of leadership fit the masculine model. Statistics as recent as
2019 reveal a gap between a woman’s qualifications and her ability to be
promoted by men.
I
wonder if you personally know women who have lost their jobs that way? I do —
and I was one!
In
2018, a little over 5% of CEO roles in Fortune 1000 companies were held by
women, while there are more college-educated women than men in the workforce.
What
about those millennials?
The
outdated “Good Old Boy” leadership model also doesn’t fit the newest group of
emerging leaders. Millennials change jobs more frequently than any other
generation, costing over $30 billion in annual turnover. This is because less
than half of millennials believe their company operates ethically, and even less
believe that business leaders are committed to helping society improve.
However,
studies show that when business leaders show an interest in millennials as human
beings, on a regular basis, the company sees an 800% increase in agility and a
700% increase in innovation.
That
means that with the right leadership model, millennials are some of the most
productive workers you could ever have on your team. And, after all, they are
our future leaders.
So,
if what people seem to need is the right interest, opportunity and engagement,
how do you fulfill their needs so they can be the best leaders they’re meant to
be?
Be
courageous — dare to
lead!