Friends of Dave #32: This Is A Man's World?
It's time for all of us to seriously wake up on gender equality in the workplace.
I was speaking recently to a twentysomething female colleague about her work. She has begun to move into a more sales oriented role at her company, and has been involved in helping close several deals for which she believed she deserved extra compensation (in the form of commission). While the level of her involvement in these deals was up for debate, trust me when I tell you, this individual is high quality, high potential, and I believe very much poised to kill it in this role in the future. Yet, as we discussed her situation, she became reluctant to want to press the issue. "I believe I deserve the commission, but I'm worried that I am coming across too bitchy by asking," she said to me. Alarm bells immediately went off in my head.
Fast forward to last week. You may recall that I included an article from the NYT in the "Last Word" section of this newsletter that discussed why more women were not CEOs. It is a bit of a long read, but definitely compelling in it's account of the challenges women face in the workplace as they look to ascend to the highest roles. More of you clicked on a story I included about the strange life of Q-tips than this NYT piece. Additional alarm bells for me.
Friends, I know it may seem like we are being bombarded by commentary about gender inequality in the workplace of late, but it is time for us all to start to pay attention and stop dismissing the issue. This is not "snowflakes" marching or main stream media simply producing clickbait content. The issue of gender inequality in the workplace is very real, and it is adversely affecting corporate performance in a material way.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty competitive. I like to be on teams that win and I absolutely HATE to lose. I like to work along side of others who think the same way, and frankly, I could give two shits about what gender or race my teammates are. I just want to be on a team that treats everyone fairly and rewards those who are accountable and are doing whatever it takes to win.
But here's the thing: as my two examples above illustrate, we are still a long way away from this happening. As long as female co-workers have to worry that asking for something they feel they deserve might make them "bitchy" or that the best qualified leaders in a company are not being installed at the top of the food chain, we ALL have less of a chance to win. I know I have never had to worry about or even think about either of these things. One could classify it simply as over confidence or as privilege. Either way, it is time for all of us, especially men, to acknowledge that an unequal playing field exists, and if we want to win, we need to proactively work to level it. This isn't liberal or progressive thinking either. This isn't me saying I am a father to a daughter or brother to a sister who works. It's simply about one thing: #winning.
I've experienced first hand what it is like to work on a gender balanced executive team. I know what it is like to work for a dynamic, strong leader that happens to be female. Diverse teams are stronger teams. When it comes to corporate governance, ego plays a much lesser role in balanced organizations, and discussions are more well rounded. Corporate cultures at gender balanced companies are far more nurturing and developmentally focused. All of these attributes are good for teams that want to win.
I could go on about this issue, but I'll get off the soapbox for now. Do me a favor though: when I include articles in this newsletter about gender (in)equality, maybe skip a random snarky article and take the time to check them out. We need more thought and discussion around this topic, particularly from the male side of the house.
Thanks for listening. If you have any thoughts or opinions you'd like to share on this topic or others, please pass them along. Enjoy your weekend everyone.
XOXO
Dave
Think on This...
Why Women Bully Each Other at Work (long read) — www.theatlantic.com
When women are a marginalized group in the workplace, have made big sacrifices for their career, or are already predisposed to show little “gender identification”, camaraderie with other women is the last thing they seek. HINT: read it.
How do you become a more confident person? Take risks. — qz.com
Struggling builds character. Failure breeds wisdom and maturity. We need to fail and experience discomfort, and over time, build a track record of demonstrated success. Once you’ve proven to yourself that you can perform in front of a crowd or run a marathon or ask a person out on a date, it’s a lot easier to have confidence the next time you face a big challenge.
This may seem like common sense, but worth reading about the importance of emotional self-regulation and how it can drive confidence.
Building Quick Rapport With Anyone — www.farnamstreetblog.com
The quicker you can make a connection, the quicker you move on to doing business. Whether this comes natural to you or not, check out these insights from the lead instructor at the FBI’s Counterintelligence training program, Robin Dreeke. This article offers some great techniques for building quick rapport with anyone.
For Your Day Job...
The Importance of Data-Driven Customer Retention — clearbit.com
An important part of retention is the work of building and improving the product itself to increase its core value. But the overlooked pin that holds retention efforts together is effective communication with customers.
Everyone looks to sales to drive growth, but just like in sports, championships are won by a strong defense. In corporate speak, that means leveraging the data you have, reducing churn and keeping the clients you worked so hard to acquire in the first place.
When marketing lives outside the marketing department — medium.com
There are still people looking at marketing as the place they go to get glossy one pagers. Marketing touches sales, product, HR, customer retention, finance/investor relations, and every employee at an organization. Read this to understand how.
Africa's mobile money revolution — qz.com
Mobile money accounts in sub-Saharan Africa have surpassed bank accounts and adoption in Africa overall outpaced growth in the rest of the world, with over half of all services globally and more than 40% of adults in active use.
My daughter went on a service trip to Ghana a few years back -- I'm telling you 10-20 years from now we will be looking at the region as we looked at India 15 years ago.
Investment dollars to VC-backed fintech companies in 2017 are on pace to rise 19% from 2016, at the current run rate. Global fintech deal activity could surpass 2016’s all-time high if the rest of the year sustains H1’17’s deal pace.
If you follow developments in FinTech and you have not been getting this comprehensive, free report quarterly, now is the time. This report shows where the puck is going in the financial technology space.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
Dunkin’ Donuts won’t be known as Dunkin’ Donuts in Pasadena
In a related move, Starbucks has decided to call itself "Stah-Bees" in the Boston area, and changed it's logo to the Boston Celtics mascot drinking a latte.
Japan has engineered an ice cream that "doesn’t melt" — qz.com
Awesome. Somehow my kids would still find a way to get it all over the couch....
Many Americans are too drugged-out to work
The hidden reason: employees increasingly admitting it's the only way they can tolerate corporate Powerpoint presentations.
And The Last Word....
My Advice To Anyone Starting A Business: Someday I Will Crush You — www.theonion.com
Execute the basics correctly and you’ll be in great shape when I come along and rip away your dreams with one emotionless pen stroke.
Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, provides compelling advice in The Onion to all aspiring entrepreneurs. You've been warned.