GLASS CEILING

POLITICAL MATURATION OF FEMALE MANAGERS

ISSUES WITH INCREASED WOMEN AT WORK

• SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

• COMPARATIVE WORTH

• GLASS CEILING

CENTRAL QUESTION

• HOW DO WOMEN BREAK THE GLASS CEILING

METHODOLOGY

• ASK WOMEN WHO ROSE TO THE TOP THREE TIERS IN FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES

OTHER SALIENT QUESTIONS ON THE

CAREERS MOBILITY OF WOMEN

• HOW MANY OF THEM DO NOT MAKE IT TO THE TOP TIERS IN THEIR COMPANIES?

• WHAT HINDERS THEIR CAREER PROGRESS

IMPLICIT ASSUMPTION IN THE MAINIERO ARTICLE

• WOMEN WHO DO NOT LEARN TO PLAY THE ORGANIZATIONAL POLITICS FAIL TO MAKE THE UPWARD CAREER PROGRESS

MAIN ARGUMENT

• DELICATE POLITICAL SKILLS ARE REQUIRED FOR WOMEN’S CAREER ADVANCEMENTS

COUNTER ARGUMENT

• WOMEN DO NOT HAVE TO PLAY THE POLITICAL GAME

• JUST DO THE JOB. DO IT WELL.

• BEWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

• BE SMART ABOUT MANAGING YOUR CAREER

• BE SURE TO ACQUIRE THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO GET YOUR JOB DONE

POLITICAL MATURATION PROCESS

• POLITICAL NAIVETTE

• BUILDING CREDIBILITY

• REFINING A STYLE

• SHOULDERING RESPONSIBILITIES

POLITICAL NAIVETTE

• BEGINS WITH IGNORANCE OF POLITICS IN THE FIRM

• LACK OF AWARENESS ABOUT HOW ONE SHOULD BEHAVE

• AND INSISTENCE ON SPEAKING THE TRUTH• LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE

CORPORATE CULTURE• NO AWARENESS OF POPULAR VIEWPOINTS• NON-CONFORMIST BEHAVIORS AND VIEWS

LEARNING IN STAGE 1

• TOP PERFORMANCE IS THE KEY• PERFORMANCE WILL SHIELD WOMEN

FROM POLITICAL BLUNDERS• SPEAKING THE TRUTH WITHOUT GETTING

FIRED FOR IT• LEARN THE CORPORATE CULTURE FAST• TEMPER OUTSPOKENNNES WITH THE

CORPORATE CULTURE, DO NOT LOSE IT

BUILDING CREDIBILITY

• AMONG SUBORDINATES, PEERS AND BOSSES.

• BUILD A TRACK RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT– TURNAROUND– PERFORM AGAINST THE STREOTYPE– WORK WITHIN THE SYSTEM, ONLY MUCH

BETTER– WORK HARD, HARDER THAN OTHERS– ESTABLISH A SOLID AND UNQUESTIONED

RECORD

SECOND STAGE LEARNING

• BUILD VISIBILITY– INVOLVE IN INNOVATIVE PROJECTS

• NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS• NEW MARKET DEVELOPMENT• NEW REPORTING SYSTEMS

BUILD ALLIANCESINSIDE

OUTSIDE

REFINE A UNIQUE STYLE

• REFOCUS ATTENTION • MORE TOWARDS SUBORDINATES• LESS FOR BOSSES AND PEERS• MORE DELEGATION• DIRECT BUT INTERACTIVE STYLE• PERSONAL INFLUENCE • OPEN STYLE• GOOD, SOLID PEOPLE MANAGER• KEEP NETWORKING

SKILLS AT STAGE THREE

• CREATE A VISION• PROVIDE RESOURCES• EMPOWER SUBORDINATES• PEOPLE ORIENTED MANAGEMENT• SHARE POWER AND INFORMATION• HELP THEM FEEL GOOD ABOUT

THEMSELVES. ENHANCE THEIR SELF WORTH

• BE TOUGH AND STRONGLY ASSERTIVE WHEN NEEDED

SHOULDER RESPONSIBILITY

• ACCEPT ASSIGNMENTS AND INCREASING LINE RESPONSIBILITY

• ACCEPT CRITICAL AND TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS

• ADJUST TO BEING THE ONLY WOMEN IN THE RANK

• BUILD COALITIONS AND SUPPORT• MENTOR OTHERS• MANAGE LIFE BALANCE, YOU ARE A ROLE

MODEL!

SUMMARY

• WOMEN WHO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING ARE– DIRECT– BLUNT– TRUTHFUL– POLITICALLY SEASONED

• NETWORKING SKILLS• COMMUNICATION SKILLS• CULTURAL SKILLS• TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP SKILLS• USE POWER FOR OTHERS AS WELL AS THEIR OWN

PURPOSES