With recent news suggesting a reshuffle in the top 100 jobs after a report that there were more men at the top than women, thought leadership strategist Mindy Gibbins-Klein shares her view about the challenges some people face when trying to reach the boardroom, and how they can be overcome.
I was shocked when I first heard that it may take up to 60 years for women to have equal presence in big businesses, and that a quarter of all FTSE 100 companies have no women at all in top positions. I was pleased to hear of the planned reform, because it will better incorporate gender and equality. I have always been an advocate for women in leadership, but I am not looking for tokenism – I actually think that the restructuring of the boardroom isn’t a battle between men and women, but about who is able to best demonstrate their ability as a thought leader and most deserving of a place at the table.
There are plenty of women with real skills and determination to make it to the top; they just need to put themselves in the running and prove they are ‘REAL’ thought leaders. Thought leaders, or people who are known amongst others for their innovative ways of thinking and their individual ways of promoting those thoughts, are more important today than ever, but it is usually a role taken up by men.
In this day and age, where women are open to equal opportunities to men, there is a gender re-balance happening, which is evident in the growing number of women coming into politics, as well as more women than ever starting their own businesses and joining executive boards. But there is still some way to go.
REAL thought leaders tend to do four things really well.
1. They achieve significant reach in their target market,
2. They do so with excellent engagement
3. They become recognised authorities in their field
4. And they have sustained impact or longevity in the mind of their clients, peers and stakeholders.
There is something to be said for the fact that women to date have had an even greater challenge than men to get their views heard and noticed, despite women’s supposed excellent communication skills. The race is now on as women take up the challenge, and men may have to fight harder to keep their positions.
As the number of men reduces to make way for women in the top jobs, more men will find themselves having to justifying their roles more than ever before and demonstrating what it is about them that makes them special. It’s ironic that a focus on gender equality will actually result in a debate which isn’t about gender at all. The new battle is about who is the best person for the role and we will increasingly see that it is those who can demonstrate REAL thought leadership that will gain the top seats.
We don’t have 60 years to wait for women to naturally evolve into equal leaders in the boardroom which is why we need to take a stand now and help our women to succeed.
In my opinion, men tend to have the upper hand in communication, because they tend to be more confident about their views and they are trained from a young age to be strong and bold. Standing up for oneself is not always part of a woman’s training and this can hold them back. The truth is that women have the same potential as men as well as the same opportunities in business, and women just need to be bold and "show the men how it is done”!
Mindy Gibbins-Klein MBA FRSA is an international speaker and thought leadership strategist. For more information on Mindy Gibbins-Klein, click here.
