The Fear Factor: An Obstacle for Women Reaching the Top
I knew that our "unconscious images" created an obstacle for women. People who do not "look the part" are less likely to come to mind when assignments or promotions are being made. I learned from my...
View ArticleMasculine Does Not Mean Male; Feminine Does Not Mean Female
Discussions of gender diversity often involve stereotyping. I avoid that. Both men and women have and use both masculine and feminine approaches. I use prototypes to create a common understanding of...
View ArticleIs “Feminine” Gaining Favor?
In the past, I found women more willing to describe their approach to working as masculine than men to describe their approach as feminine. I see signs of greater value for feminine ways of leading. I...
View ArticleEnough about Leaning In! We Need to Become Bilingual!
Sandberg's advice fits into a large genre of advice for women on how to succeed in the masculine workplace. She correctly says women need to appear more confident. The typical man speaks with...
View Article“Gendered” Definitions of Leadership: Who Is “Decisive”?
By "gendered" definitions of leadership, I mean definitions of leadership that are based on masculine vs. feminine ways of leading. We may associate the term "decisive," with masculine ways of making...
View ArticleMust All Good Leaders “Lead from the Front”?
Concepts of good leadership are often associated with how men tend to lead (masculine forms of leadership). The feminine form of leadership is different but equally effective. Sometimes the results...
View ArticleMEN AND WOMEN ARE FROM THE SAME PLANET
Recent research validates my view that we cannot stereotype men and women. Studies show that men and women operate along a continuum rather than demonstrating distinct psychological characteristics....
View Article“Masculine” and “Feminine”: Concepts or Stereotypes?
In my quest for gender diversity in leadership, I use the concepts "masculine" and "feminine." And I use prototypes of each. My point is to avoid stereotyping men and women. I use a common...
View ArticleDifferences: Moving from Judgment to Appreciation
Differences can be the source of judgment and tension. Understanding can lower judgment and enable appreciation and leveraging. The sequence is: awareness, understanding, appreciation, leveraging. If...
View ArticleBecoming “Frax-wise”
To avoid stereotyping, I use a prototype named Fran to describe feminine approaches to work and a prototype named Max to represent masculine approaches. All of us are both Fran and Max; we are "Frax."...
View ArticleBeing Bilingual: Speaking and Appreciating Masculine and Feminine “Language”
There are two "languages" in the workplace -- masculine and feminine. We use the term "Frax-wise" to describe people who understand, appreciate and leverage both masculine and feminine ways. (We are...
View ArticleBetter Decisions: Balancing Masculine and Feminine Approaches
If feminine ways of making decisions are "Fran," and the masculine approach to decision-making is "Max," we are all "Frax." We are "Frax-wise" when we can use and appreciate both approaches. In the...
View ArticleBalanced Leadership: Leveraging Both Masculine and Feminine Strengths
Leigh Buchanan's article talks about a new book by John Gerzema, "Between Venus and Mars." I see many parallels. Both our work and Gerzema's are based upon the importance of employee engagement to...
View ArticleInfluencing Two Ways: Valuing Masculine and Feminine Approaches
The masculine form of influencing others is based on a hierarchical world-view. The feminine form is based on building and maintaining relationships. Those (men and women) who influence in a masculine...
View ArticleMasculine-Feminine Difference: How We THINK
The prototypical masculine world view and feminine world view are different. The masculine sees things hierarchically. The feminine sees things in terms of relationships. One "driver" of differences in...
View ArticleWomen at the Top: So Much Attention, So Little Progress
I am seeing more and more focus on the issue of why there are not more women at the leadership level of U.S. business. Yet there is so little progress. I agree with other experts that the causes exist...
View ArticleWhy I Focus on Gender Diversity
Why do I focus on a specific form of diversity (gender or generational differences at work) rather than more broadly on diversity and inclusion? I take an inductive approach, believing that awareness...
View ArticleWomen Promoting Themselves: Following My Own Advice
In my book and blogs, I explore differences in masculine and feminine approaches to work -- e.g., the value of relationships, structure, decision-making, work style and communication style. There are...
View ArticleSo Many People; So Many Differences
I am fortunate to have been able to travel a great deal recently. When I travel, what I read in history books or hear on the news becomes more real. I pay attention to news of places where I have been....
View ArticleMen Leveraging Their “Feminine”
Men in my workshops used to hesitate to claim feminine strengths, perhaps concerned they would be called a “sissy.” In my book and workshops, I use prototypes for masculine and feminine – Max and Fran....
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