May the best person win…
Right, in case you weren’t already aware, next Monday is International Women’s Day 2010. Men: if you’re reading this don’t panic and stop! This is not going to be a blog complaining about you at all, actually I can empathise with both sexes… Rather a blog about the promotion of true equal rights.
Whilst the government and the UN work incredibly hard to ensure no difference of treatment based on race, gender or age – finding the balance is increasingly hard in today’s work place. Have you found this?
Let’s get real – when I founded Diva Cosmetics, naturally a lot of ladies were attracted to the roles that I advertised because when applying for jobs you look for subject areas that you have knowledge of and if you’re a woman the chances are that you’ve been playing around with makeup for years. Makeup is generally perceived to be a women’s subject even with 20% of all cosmetic sales being made by men – Prince did wonders for eyeliner…
Whilst I fully respect and applaud every movement resulting in women getting the same opportunities as men and not being held back in their creative or intellectual flair I think that we have to tread very carefully not to confuse the issue…
As a business owner I find the employment angle very simple – I want the best person for the job. I don’t have any preconceived ideas on race, gender or age – as a small business owner you want to be able to freely interview people and select the person that will fill the role and push your company forward be it a man or a woman.
Simply put: The best person for the job is the person that should get the job. This is based on skills, experience and everything else that is relevant when recruiting. The thought of someone failing to get given a position because their gender is not required to complete the correct ratio for the work place is utterly crazy.
Whilst men tend to dominate the financial sectors, women are gradually making their way up the ranks and earning their respect from making good decisions. It will be a while before they don’t have to earn respect and just get delivered it like men but it’s becoming easier thanks to the many women around the world that have the guts to make a stand when they see unfair treatment in the work place.
I am lucky enough to mentor several key business leaders, both men and women and the characteristics displayed by both are the same. They both harbour the same drive, vision, determination and creativity needed to be extraordinary in this world. So men: Don’t feel threatened by women – work with us and rejoice in the fact that one of our species must have helped you at some point with an issue of multi-tasking when you’re on deadline…
And women: Believe in your ideas and be strong enough to see them through. If you genuinely feel that unfair treatment is being dished out on you then seek help from the relevant information sites on how to act.
Until next week – enjoy and celebrate next Monday’s International Women’s Day – for an event near you see the link below, and in the words of five fabulously spicy and confident women: GIRL POWER!
