Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Women and Power, class discussion, HRM 403

One function of leadership and a vital part of empowerment is that the leader does not accept associates coming to him or her with the problem, without also doing the mental work to explore and suggest solutions or remedies for the problem.

Rule: do not allow anyone simply to bring you a problem without bringing some suggestions on how it could be resolved.

This way you imply that you are expecting people to do their own work and thinking rather than rely on you to solve problems for them. Of course you will bring your own resources to the situation, but as leader you do not want an atmosphere where everyone is running to you with problems expecting you to solve them.

This by the way, BTW, is one of the lessons repeated several times in the Hidden Lions story.

Leadership, team building and empowerment is expecting others to come up with their own solutions or at least do the brainstorming to demonstrate active engagement and research.

Ms Gilreath presentation last night is certainly timely. But something vital is missing, that is urgent to observe and comment on.

Her conclusion was that Corporate America needs to change....

I said or implied in the class that waiting for white men (of whatever age) in power to give women more status and money, etc. is, in essence, waiting for Santa Claus. It does nothing for you as women, or for your case. Nothing. If fact, it can have the effect of digging the hole deeper, because it can be an excuse or justification for (whatever)

This conclusion simply puts the energy, the awareness needed, and the incentive out there, and keeps women and their status in a "done-to" role. It keeps women in a victim role.

This conclusion does not examine the responsibility that you and each of you have to change this world, or at least your own world.

To find and explore Ways and means now available to you right here.

To state only the problem is to put the solution on others, and is not accepting the leadership the situation summons from you.

This implies that women themselves are not responsible for changing the situation.

The danger here is that being Outside the Loop for some creates a sense of resentment and entitlement that because things are not fair, others should recognize and change it. Therefore, if I complain enough or wait enough, something more fair will happen.

This class is about leadership, about taking charge of your work life, defining or redefining your goals.

There can be at least ten things to do that you and Denise can up with to address this situation.

This is leadership. You are part and parcel of Corporate America right now. What is your role, mission and task in creating a more equitable work world for women?

Figure that out, own that, step into it, and you have learned and earned leadership.

Paschal Baute.

Tip. There is no change without risk, courage and vulnerability. As the downhill slalom skier going for the Gold knows (and going 60 miles an hour on edge and on ice embraces totally), "no balls, no blue chip, no guts, no glory, no pain, no gain."

Hilary did not get to where she is today by saying or thinking "it is up to corporate America to recognize these inequities."
Nor did humble Rosa Parks, a cleaning lady taking the bus in Birmingham in 1954, who decided to break the color line and sit in the Whites Only section rather than having to stand in the back.

Note: without Rosa Parks there may not have been a Martin Luther King, Jr......

from wikipedia (potential role model)
Rosa Parks (February 4, 1913 - October 24, 2005) was an African American civil rights activist whom the U.S. Congress later called "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement".

On December 1, 1955, Parks became famous for refusing to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. This action of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the largest movements against racial segregation. In addition, this launched Martin Luther King, Jr., who was involved with the boycott, to prominence in the civil rights movement. She has had a lasting legacy worldwide.

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