QwikCoach has asked for comments about what people think about gender differences in the workplace and if people would like to work for a man or a woman.
Comments received by QwikCoach included several themes:
- The belief that gender inequality has lessened in the workplace.
- The belief that management and leadership behavior is very similar for men and women.
- The feeling that despite progress there are still situations where women miss out or sense they are not getting a fair deal and
- A sense that women just are not making it to the top in any large numbers).
For leaders the feedback received suggests, as previously noted, that although there has been change — and much to the better in both attitudes and outcomes for women — gender remains a workplace issue.
Looking at the issue of leadership from the perspective of style, specifically using the Myers-Briggs type Indicator demonstrates that there is no statistical shortage of women with the styles most associated with CEOs. Three of four CEOs are either NT or ST types and so are 20% of women — but this hasn’t budged the number of women CEOs — not yet at least.
It appears that the issue of gender is akin to that of race — complicated and related to years of stereotypes and prejudices that are not easily dislodged. Perhaps what might be learned here is that open mindedness and willingness to see things from various perspectives is the best approach to dealing with any gender issue in the workplace.
Ask more questions, listen with openness to what others think, and beware of assumptions about any one or another individual’s view of gender issues. Realize that although you may think — “gender isn’t an issue in the workplace anymore,” many especially those with facts to support them, disagree.
- Additional Reading
- Type Talk at Work (Revised): How the 16 Personality types Determine Your Success on the Job
Does Gender Matter?