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Leadership and Women
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Posted by editor Fri May 5, 2006 17:53:20 PDT
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1 response 1 comment It’s dangerous enough to talk about leadership, but it borders on insane for a guy to hold out some opinions on women in leadership. And this may just be the column to totally convince those of you who have always suspected the worst about me.

Leadership, often thought to be the domain ruled by the male of the species, is often confused with having a strong ego. Maybe that’s because many of us of the male persuasion easily qualify in that department.

For my part, I believe a healthy ego is beneficial to leadership. It’s just the egos on steroids that I object to. There are those who believe the “alpha male”, that lone wolf, predatory by nature, is the true leader. And no doubt, this model has been followed through much of history.

Kings rule. Dictators rule. Until someone, often a child or “close friend” overthrows them. Seldom is there a bloodless coup. Most of these revolts result with the deposed despot’s violent death along with his most visible supporters and all possible successors. It’s a recurring event in history and sadly even happens in our “enlightened” age.

My experience with women in leadership has been encouraging. I believe that in many respects, by their very natures, women are more prepared for leadership than their male counterparts.

This conclusion has taken me some time to formulate and accept. My first eighteen years were spent in the parsonage. You guessed it — I’m one of those terrible preacher’s kids. Basically, my early training pretty much impressed me that a woman’s place was in the home and that leadership was a divinely granted fiat (just like the divine right of medieval royal lines).

I still believe the mother’s place is in the home. I also believe the father’s place is in the home. Leadership of children is a responsibility of both parents and neglect in this realm is an abdication of the most important leadership one could ever provide.

Men and women, while different in some respects, should have equal access to opportunity. Women have been finding more opportunity lately and that is a good thing.

It appears they are making the most of the opportunity.

Look around Tehachapi and you see a great many women in leadership roles that they are performing beautifully at.

I’ll give you some leadership roles and allow you to fill in the name blanks.

At City Hall, three of the five City Council members are women. One just completed a successful stint as Mayor.

Our Chamber of Commerce has flourished under the leadership of two women successively.

Throughout the community, many successful businesses are owned by women.
We’re blessed with many wonderful women excelling in real estate and banking.
The Publisher and Editor of the Tehachapi News, which I am thankful to write for, are both women.

We’ve got women leading the way in education.

Why are all these women and so many more excelling at leadership?

I believe it’s because of their innate ability to nurture. Women, for the most part since the dawn of time, have put their families first. Many women today have two full-time jobs: their careers and their families. Men come home and plop down in front of the TV to chill out from the rigors of work. Women come home and toil until they’re too spent and finally hit the hay. This is especially true for women who are raising families as a single parent.

I know this from my own household. Next to my wife, I feel like a lazy slug. While I’ve worked hard to be better at sharing the load, she still leaves me in the dust.

I don’t think my wife’s an exception to the rule. She loves her work. And she loves her family.

This dedication to nurture works in both worlds. Organizations are made of people. Nurture the people in the organization and you nurture the organization.

Does this mean men aren’t nurturers? Absolutely not. I’m very aware and grateful for the male mentors who inspired me to learn and grow during my life. Yet, I believe that for many of us guys, it’s too easy to let the “I” get in the way of our “we”.

Tehachapi’s blessed with some outstanding leadership, both men and women. Furthermore, there doesn’t seem to be a “glass ceiling” limiting the opportunity of capable, dedicated, and determined women.

That’s good. That’s really good.

Because good leadership is never too much of a good thing.

Mark Moore is a Chartered Financial Consultant with Q4 Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member NASD/SIPC. Your feedback is valued. Email Mark at MarkM@Q4Financial.net.

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Comment From: paralegal39years

You're wisdom for the ages.