We need the right person for the job, not the right gender
Many of you will have heard my views on “Positive Discrimination” – particularly at the end of last year when I was invited onto the James Max Show on LBC and I was involved in a very lively debate with Julie Hall of Women Unlimited. I don’t find it difficult to accept that Julie and I have opposing views – but imagine how surprised I was to find myself in a full on discussion over lunch at The BIG Event 2010 with Bill Morrow (the founder of Angels Den).
I hadn’t realised before I embarked on my positioning that Bill was completely and utterly in favour of positive discrimination for Women. To find myself arguing against a man on this subject was really quite unique! It was very interesting to listen to a man’s views on this topic – and I have to say that overall he is actually quite right. YES, of course Women should be on Boards of Directors, with Executive positions in the FTSE top 100 companies and beyond. YES, of course, Women will add an extra dimension to the way companies are run and YES of course, Women are valuable members of society and should be represented in large numbers across business. How could I possibly disagree with such obvious statements. Because they are, after all, obvious!
Where we disagreed however was in the way this should be achieved.
Bill Morrow was extremely keen for directives to be given as to the % of board directors which should be women (and within a certain time frame) – as they have done in Norway and more recently France. Does this mean that the right person will get the job? Does this mean that a woman will be given the role even though a man may be better suited and more experienced? This is definitely not the way forward – this is a very dangerous journey for us to embark on.
During the conversation, it was highlighted by Bill, that in a very large management consultancy firm only 6 of the partners were women – and that this was completely wrong. My question now, and at the time is this: We should not be focusing on the actual number of 6 but more on the reasons why? Is it because Women are not being offered the position of partner – which clearly leads to the question of Why? Or is it simply because Women are not applying to be partner within this particular firm – which again leads to the values of this particular company and what they are actually doing to encourage and enable women to become partners…….
It goes without saying that we (WOMEN) can add value, make a difference and be extremely competent in whatever roles we undertake but we need to be put in those roles because a) we want them and b) we are the best person for the job.
One listener to the conversation (a woman!) said that she would be insulted to be given a position within a company simply because she was a woman – she wanted to be given the position based on merit.
Change is required
Change is required – without a doubt – but it is not going to happen by being DICTATED to. Let us start to educate and change the mindset of women to want to have these roles, to know they can have these roles and to encourage them to achieve them.
We will continue to increase our presence in senior positions – already HUGE change has taken place over the last 10 years. There are many inspirational women role models who continue to shatter the glass ceiling time and time again …
What we need to do is KNOW and BELIEVE in ourselves and focus on being the absolute best. Which is of course, is not that difficult!
