With so many books written on the subject of female leadership, do we really need another book?
Given the ongoing inequality that exists in the workplace and in society at large and the large disparity between the success of men and women in corporate life, I strongly believe we do and that was my motivation behind writing The Female Edge. This book is not about highlighting and analysing the inequalities that exist but is more a call to action. As a woman leader today, what are the things that you can say, do, think, and consider that empower your success and bring out your unique EDGE as a leader?
For the last twenty years, I’ve worked with boards and executives of global organisations facing major questions around strategy, competitiveness, and diversity. Working across all sectors and industries, I’ve seen many women struggle to get a foothold on the leadership ladder. Women so often find that their careers plateau much too early or believe that they will not be taken seriously and leave organisations, taking their skills and experience elsewhere. We call this the ‘leaky female talent pipeline’.
With the arrival of COVID, we saw a backward trend in terms of women in senior roles in business according to the Women in the Workplace Study 2020 by McKinsey & Lean. In pre-COVID-19 times, “the share of women leaders grew from 23 to 28 percent in SVP roles—and from 17 to 21 percent in the C-suite. Women remained dramatically underrepresented, particularly women of color, but the numbers were slowly improving.” Since the arrival of COVID-19 the stark differences between female and male leaders is more evident. The same report states that
“Women are 1.5 times more likely than senior-level men to think about downshifting their role or leaving the workforce because of COVID-19. Almost three in four cite burnout as a main reason.”
This does not paint a healthy picture for equality over the long term, neither does it bode well for society at large when we consider the impact this is having on the wider make-up of decision-makers and people of influence in our society. If we want career opportunities that are exciting and challenging for women and men equally, then we must look at how to increase the proportion of women in senior positions across all industries.
The Female EDGE seeks to do this by giving women an approach to bolster their already innate skills as leaders. Women do not struggle with success because they lack the abilities to do the job, but perhaps because they are not given the same level of encouragement and self-belief that men seem to naturally possess. In my coaching programs with women across all industries, roles, and disciplines, I’ve seen one thing emerges time and time again: women doubt that they are good enough for a role because they have not fully proved themselves in all areas. Equally, I have worked with many male leaders who believe that they have a right to a leadership role because they feel ready for it, regardless of whether they have actually done the work before. A 2019 article in the Harvard Business Review found that even though women are rated more highly on leadership qualities, it is not being converted into opportunities within organisations.
“Leaders need to take a hard look at what gets in the way of promoting women in their organizations. Clearly, the unconscious bias that women don’t belong in senior level positions plays a big role.”
My experiences (and those of the women I have worked with) have taught me that there is a way of creating space for the success of today’s female leaders. It involves cultural change in organisations, certainly; yet equally, it involves women finding their voice, articulating their values, and carving out a career that is fulfilling, authentic, and compatible with family life. When women hone and fully embrace their power as influencers, they re-frame the traditional leadership dialogue. This is encapsulated in The Female Edge.
I’ll be sharing the EDGE model and more insights into the unique challenges that female leaders face in the coming weeks. The Female Edge will be out in September 2021. If you would like access to exclusive pre-launch content and be notified of the Female Edge Webinar register your interest here.