Women worldwide are rapidly reshaping the business landscape as leaders, innovators and money-earners. American companies with women in senior positions make more money than those with male CEOs (2014 Fortune analysis). Don’t you think it’s time that corporate South Africa also addresses the gender imbalance in boardrooms?
Talents and skills women bring to the table
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- Women are better than men at seeing all points of view. They are more inclined to investigate both sides to see if both parties can have a desirable outcome. This allows for more collaboration and win-win situations.
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- Women have different values from those of men. For example, if an employee is conflicted between work and caring for her family, a woman in a senior position will likely find a solution to the mutual benefit of the company and employee.
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- Women are stronger at networking than men are. They’re masters at navigating and putting their ideas to the test. They follow up and make sure that they sow their ideas in the most fertile networking ground.
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- Women are willing to sponsor and support others in the workplace. They want to feel that they’re helping to make a difference in the lives of others.
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- Their inherent ability to be creative allows women to discover opportunities that most men miss. When given the opportunity to be themselves, women are natural leaders! No wonder the fastest growing sector of small business owners in South Africa are women.
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- Women are excellent long-term strategic thinkers. They keep their eye on the prize and are less inclined to rally behind a short-term strategy if a more sustainable approach can be executed.
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- Women are not easily distracted and don’t get their egos in the way. Their attention to detail is uncanny and their ability to track, evaluate and manage change is impressive. If you don’t believe me, take a look at Forbes‘ 2014 impressive list of the most powerful women in the world (http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2014/05/28/the-worlds-most-powerful-women-2014).
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- Women are experts at cultivating relationships that are purposeful, genuine, meaningful, healthy and long lasting. They quickly identify areas to consolidate, organise and strengthen business outcomes, and they make excellent project managers.
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- Women are natural givers. They not only give to others but also to their communities. Why do you think women run most non-profit organisations?
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- Women are wired to survive and thrive in fluctuating times like the present. They’re good at multitasking and keep pushing their ideas and ideals when prudence says quit.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the most important economic trend of the last 30 years might not be high tech … but rather the high employment of women.
Sources
http://fortune.com/2014/07/08/women-ceos-fortune-500-1000
Moyo, Portia. 2013. Companies with women in senior positions make more money. Thought leaders. 10 December.
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www.forbes.com
www.huffingtonpost.com