"I’ve been at countless meetings at various news organizations where a male editor, suggesting a story idea, loudly declares something like: “We need a piece on the drop in gas prices!” A woman, making the same point, might ask hesitantly: “Has anyone noticed that gas prices are falling? Do we know why?”"
Why the special treatment for women? If a man said it, they might get ignored too. Why? The first person was making a statement and being assertive (and confident about their belief). The second person (who just happens to be a woman) sounds like they are unsure of their opinion..and most people will not follow it.
“One of the things they can do in meetings is ask us, ‘What do you think?’ And include us.”
I've been in many meetings with men and women. The people that lead and are confident are followed. I have been ignored at times because I wasn't confident about my own opinion.
"Carl Allegretti, chairman and CEO of Deloitte Tax LLP, says that when he chose a woman to succeed him in a senior post a few years ago, her response was, “Why me?” He explained that “you’re an excellent leader, you’re excellent with people, and you’re excellent with clients,” he says. “But she didn’t raise her hand.”"
The same happens with men.
"that they are treated as if they don’t know what they are talking about until they prove otherwise."
Welcome to life: Nobody in the corporate world will respect you (unless you are the president) until you can prove your worth.
"One potential land mine: saying to a colleague who’s a mother, “You’ve got two little kids? How do you do it?”"
How is this a "land mine"? Raising kids is extremely difficult without working..and even more so while working full-time.
"Female leaders are more likely to try for collaboration, treating others as equals and checking in frequently."
Micromanagement is not a good thing and most people don't like it.
Everything in this article tells me that men and women are being treated equally. Women are finally waking up to things that men have had to endure in the workplace for many, many years.
The takeaway is that if you are not assertive and confident, you will be most likely be ignored and you may not get a promotion.
You're right, the article would have been more complete if it had explained the widely acknowledged ways in which women get judged differently from men when they try and act more assertive and confident. I guess it thought it was aimed at an audience who were already aware of that, but that does seem a bit of a stretch for a mainstream newspaper like the WSJ.
Why the special treatment for women? If a man said it, they might get ignored too. Why? The first person was making a statement and being assertive (and confident about their belief). The second person (who just happens to be a woman) sounds like they are unsure of their opinion..and most people will not follow it.
“One of the things they can do in meetings is ask us, ‘What do you think?’ And include us.”
I've been in many meetings with men and women. The people that lead and are confident are followed. I have been ignored at times because I wasn't confident about my own opinion.
"Carl Allegretti, chairman and CEO of Deloitte Tax LLP, says that when he chose a woman to succeed him in a senior post a few years ago, her response was, “Why me?” He explained that “you’re an excellent leader, you’re excellent with people, and you’re excellent with clients,” he says. “But she didn’t raise her hand.”"
The same happens with men.
"that they are treated as if they don’t know what they are talking about until they prove otherwise."
Welcome to life: Nobody in the corporate world will respect you (unless you are the president) until you can prove your worth.
"One potential land mine: saying to a colleague who’s a mother, “You’ve got two little kids? How do you do it?”"
How is this a "land mine"? Raising kids is extremely difficult without working..and even more so while working full-time.
"Female leaders are more likely to try for collaboration, treating others as equals and checking in frequently."
Micromanagement is not a good thing and most people don't like it.
Everything in this article tells me that men and women are being treated equally. Women are finally waking up to things that men have had to endure in the workplace for many, many years.
The takeaway is that if you are not assertive and confident, you will be most likely be ignored and you may not get a promotion.