Applauding diversity not fearing it

A young woman I know (a 30-year-old) works within the financial markets. She works long hours, with little recognition or even contact with her manager.

At annual review time her manager was very tough. He even went as far as to say: “the way you approach work is just different to the others.” Interestingly, all her peers are men. Of course, she approaches work differently – she is a woman. We are not all the same – we bring different things to the same problem. She did not get a particularly good review – or any recognition for the long, hard hours she works. She was devastated, upset and unable to sleep. She said, “I work so hard – do I have to be just like them? If I give up, how will any woman ever make it in this man’s world?”

So while my friend battles on, lonely, unappreciated and ‘different’ – we need to do something at senior levels. We don’t want women on boards who act like men – we want them to bring their personality, intuition and empathy.

Until there are as many women in executive roles and on boards, many young women will give in. It is too lonely, too hard and the pay just does not warrant the angst. (My friend knows she is paid less than her peers and her ‘bonus’ is always less).

It makes me so sad for her. I want to go into that institution and stamp my feet and yell, but I also know that those macho men in that business would just look at me bewildered and say, “See this is why we need to keep it the way it is – no crazy women here, thanks – they’re just too hard to understand.”

Which is why affirmative action for women on boards is eminently sensible. If ‘traditional’ (male) businesses struggle to accept us for who and what we are, women will always feel they “have to be just like them” to get to the top. Which isn’t authentic, and dismisses all those innate positive qualities the feminine brings. Legislation that supports the appointment of women to boards would help change perspectives that, sadly, are currently too male-skewed.

What are your thoughts on quotas for women on boards – given it was International Women’s Day this week and the debate is raging throughout the media?

Naomi Simson is considered one of Australia’s ‘Best Bosses’. She is an employee engagement advocate and practices what she preaches in her own business. RedBalloon has been named as one of only six Hewitt Best Employers in Australia and New Zealand for 2009 and awarded an engagement scorecard of over 90% two years in a row – the average in Australian businesses is 55%. RedBalloon has also been nominated by BRW as being in the top 10 Best Places to Work in Australia behind the likes of Google. One of Australia’s outstanding female entrepreneurs, Naomi regularly entertains as a passionate speaker inspiring people on employer branding, engagement and reward and recognition. Naomi writes a blog and is a published author – and has received many accolades and awards for the business she founded – RedBalloon.com.au.