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04/08/06 Financial Times - Danger of creating another caricature
Sir, I was surprised to read in Alison Maitland’s feature ‘Learn the masculine imperative’ (August 2) that such clichéd approaches to engendering female empowerment within the workplace still exists.
Unfortunately, in our earnest to shed historical stereotypes of passive and oppressed women, another caricature has been created that is just as damaging to credibility within leadership and, ultimately, the progression of industry: it is worrying that consultancies are still advocating the aggressive and uncompromising qualities of the 1980s’ female Gordon Gekko (the villainous male hero of the film Wall Street) as an effective management model.
In trying to resolve the diversity debate, industry and its commentators have focused on issues such as gender, race, education and social background. While valid, to a degree these detract from the bigger picture.
It is right that we expect certain competencies such as the confidence and conviction to challenge and the passion and vision to lead a team. The value in assertiveness and communication skills is also unquestionable. However, such qualities cannot be exclusively attributed to a specific gender or other label despite repeated references to traditional male and female characteristics within business. Diversity is the key to a successful company and recognising how the different qualities within individuals, regardless of their gender, can harmonise to create effective teams.
Yet are businesses themselves guilty of placing misguided behavioural expectations on their employees, pigeonholing them into preconceived roles that fit with their seniority and organisational culture? Encouraging people to adopt false personas limits creativity, the ability to innovate and, ultimately, stifles individuals’ true potential.
Focusing on aligning an individual’s qualities within the needs of the business and how these can contribute and be developed is the key to success. Until we shed the well-worn labels, industry will continue to be caught up in the politics of diversity rather than reaping the rewards.
Tracy Pepper
Managing director
FMG Support
