Leadership & Power = ?

Leadership is a way of thinking, a way of acting and, most importantly, a way of communicating.
Simon Sinek

My Newsletter this week is a discussion about the concepts of leadership and power because perhaps there needs to be lots of dialogue about what these concepts mean in the 21^st century. I certainly believe that women need to understand these concepts and the historical context around them.

I really like the concept of leadership that Simon Sinek has portrayed because it means anyone can aspire to be a leader. 

This is certainly my premise as a Women’s Leadership Specialist. I believe that anyone can be a leader with the right personae. In fact, I think everyone needs to act with a leadership lens because leadership is about taking responsibility for outcomes as well as guiding and inspiring others to reach these outcomes.

However, power and leadership have traditionally been male domains for thousands of years.

At one point in my career, I explored the notion of being included in the power structures of our major corporations.  I thought of becoming a Director. When I attended a training session with Women on Boards, I was quite firmly told that I would need to dress in a business suit to even be considered for the role. In other words, I would need to dress like a man to be allowed into the positions of power.

There was very little discussion on whether my ideas would be heard in these bastions of power even considering what I was wearing.

There is the above famous picture of Angela Merkel meeting Hillary Clinton in their female politician’s uniforms.  Margaret Thatcher UK Prime Minister 1979 to 1990 had voice training specifically to lower her voice to add the tone of authority that her advisers thought her own higher pitched voice lacked.

I explored the word power in the dictionary and these are some of the results

• the possession of control or command over others; authority; ascendancy: – power over men’s minds
• delegated authority; authority granted to a person or persons in a particular office or capacity: – the powers of the president (I bet an image of a man came into your head when you saw the word “president”)
• to drive or push by applying power: – She powered the car expertly up the winding mountain road. (Wow! Our gender is mentioned. Is it enough? Power over an inanimate object? I suspect not.)

What about the word leadership?

• The position of function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group: – He managed to maintain his leadership of the party despite heavy opposition.
• Ability to lead: – As early as sixth grade she displayed remarkable leadership potential. (Potential only?)
• An act or instance of leading; guidance; direction: – They prospered under his strong leadership.

The Rockefeller Foundations 2017 survey “Women in Leadership Tackling Corporate Culture From the Top” highlights that women are subject to far more scrutiny than men.

In America, 56% believe that when a company led by a female CEO performs badly, she gets more blame than a male CEO would.

Conversely, only 18% say that when a female-led company performs well, she gets more credit for the company’s success than a male CEO would.

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry that is happening now has led to the chair of AMP Catherine Brenner to resign because of the misconduct of AMP that was disclosed at this Royal Commission.

Immediately, the Australian Institute of Company Directors has been asked whether inexperienced women have been promoted to company boards too early because of the quest to have equal representation on company boards.

This is despite any discussion around the fact that the culture of the financial industry has been developed by men.  I know because I have been involved in it for 38 years and I know that the underlying culture has been built around competition and financial deals rather than collaboration and the best quality financial advice for clients.

I don’t have all the answers for the way forward.  I just know that we need to have further dialogue around what constitutes leadership and power and how women can be allowed to find an equal place within these concepts.

Some questions to consider.

Is power about control and command over others?
What is strong leadership?
Do women need more training to be leaders?
What are the cultural norms that have been built around leadership?
Are these cultural norms serving all of society in the 21^st century?

I can answer one of the questions.  My research for my bookWomen As Leaders – The World Needs You indicates that women do need to have different training to understand how to navigate the systems that have been developed for thousands of years by men.  Traditional leadership training is only going to give us more of the same.

Please respond with your thoughts around what I have written.  I look forward to further robust discussion.  It can only help our world to become better at looking after everyone – dare I say a very female concept.

Remember all of this and much, much more is provided in my Women’s Empowerment and Leadership Program.  The next program is on 10th and 11th May, 2018.