As an EAP Counselor for 10 years, I cannot tell you how many women I have had in my office, in tears, suffering under the toxic leadership...OF ANOTHER WOMAN! I was shocked at the number of them who said they would much rather work under a man than another woman. As a man, supporting equality and women in leadership, this shocked me. I see leadership as basically an EMOTIONAL PROCESS. Women have been wiser in building that currency. Unfortunately, many of women toss this aside when they get in positions of leadership. And the toxicity and inequality in the workplace continues one. All that is changed is whos on top. But for someone to make it to the TOP requires someone to be on the BOTTOM. THE ROOT of the problem isnt the behavior. That is just the symptom. It is the beliefs, not only about equality but about what leadership is. If leadership is based on a top down model, the only thing that changes is you get more women on top. And while that would be a welcome balance, historically, it does not solve toxicity in the workplace caused by traditional hierarchical leadership. Women in leadership, often create THE SAME toxicity in the workplace because they adopt THE SAME dysfunctional model of leadership that everyone has been taught and continues to be taught in virtually every leadership development class, program or workshop. Current leaders are encouraged to ADD things like empathy, cooperation, and service to an existing DYSFUNCTIONAL, toxic model of leadership that basically believes it is ok to try to change another person. This is couched in politically correct language like encourage, model, enable, etc. but it is still the same old disrespectful, manipulative power play. Whether leadership comes from a man or a woman, the same old power play will lead to the same old toxicity. Keep doing what you are doing and you will keep getting what you are getting. Changing who is doing it, wont change the outcome. I believe what is needed is not just new behaviors, not just new faces. I believe we need a NEW MODEL of leadership and we need to educate and mentor BOTH men and women HOW to practice that model. I vote for a national training program in the American workplace that teaches a leadership model based on balanced energetic principles. A new model of leadership that is realistic, respectful in that it doesnt try to change anyone, non-hierarchical and focused on self-growth is needed. (Shameless plug:) I vote we teach Healing Leadership in every workplace to every leader. Let me know if you are interested in learning more.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:08:43 +0000
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