Leadership: His and Hers

To close off Women’s History Month, here’s a fictional exercise based on very real things I have heard and continue to hear spoken about men and women in leadership positions in Columbia/HoCo. I’ve compressed them all into two imaginary “candidates for promotion.”

Perhaps you have met someone like this. Perhaps you are someone like this.

We still have a very long way to go.

The Candidates:

He’s a real leader. A real take-charge guy, you know? Sure, he’s a little rough around the edges but he really says what he thinks. And it just shows how passionate he is about his work.

Boy, does he ever know how to put his foot down. He knows what he wants and won’t tolerate any deviation from the goal. Staff know they’d better get the job done and no back talk. That’s why he’s won so many awards. He shakes things up. Makes things happen.

You don’t go around his back, no sir. Not if you value your life. Wouldn't stand for it.

Listen, leadership isn’t about being everybody’s best friend. You’ve got to have the vision and then use your smarts to push things through. Some people might not like that, but, you know, they’re probably slackers.

I say he’s our guy.

*****

This woman is a problem. She’s difficult, you know? Bossy. Strident. She just comes right out and tells people things. The way she does it ruffles feathers. And when you take the time to tell her why she’s wrong she gets so...emotional. You know. Shrill.

She could be more pleasant. Ask more questions, smile more. There’s no reason to be so rigid when you could just take the extra time to make everyone feel comfortable. What’s the rush? Why so focused on deadlines?

Really I find it easier just to do things without telling her. It’s a whole lot simpler feeling like I can do things my own way without all that extra “management.”

And, who does she think she is, just pushing those new ideas without looking for approval first? I mean it’s only human nature to want to rebel against that kind of controlling behavior. So what if she’s smart? Does she have to be such a show-off about it? Like I care about her awards?

It comes down to this: she’s just not...likeable, you know? Not a team player.

I don’t think we can work with this woman.

Happy Woman’s History Month, HoCo. Here’s to better tomorrows.

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