{"id":2027,"date":"2019-10-24T15:17:03","date_gmt":"2019-10-24T05:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joanmcewan.com\/?p=2027"},"modified":"2022-10-05T13:00:37","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T03:00:37","slug":"why-women-in-leadership-roles-is-key-to-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joanmcewan.com\/why-women-in-leadership-roles-is-key-to-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Women in Leadership Roles is Key to Innovation!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Why women in leadership roles is key to innovation? It’s a bit like adding the missing link in the chain. It’s the part that makes the process complete. It adds substance, a different perspective and a different experience. Time to challenge the “norms”!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have learned a lot from the last decade of disruption. Moving into the next decade of 2020 and beyond. Time to maximise our learnings?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember vividly the day we bought our first family computer. Back in 1998! A time when “our norms” were challenged. It was a huge occasion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My children had just started high school and they needed a computer for their schoolwork. They were so excited when the computer arrived. They just logged on and instantly they were creating word documents, excel spreadsheets and even developing powerpoint presentations!
As I watched their excitement, I was in awe! How did they know to navigate round a computer? Clearly our brains were wired very differently! I felt inadequate and scared as I could not understand all the technology at that time. It was like moving into another world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a case of the baby boomer generation meets head on with the millennial generation. 2 worlds colliding to make sense of the disruption that was happening. Not only from a technology perspective but from a human perspective also. Millennial key characteristics<\/a> :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Currently 5 generations<\/a> are in the workforce. All working differently with different beliefs, values and needs. Millennials are focused on prevention. In other words changing the traditional way of working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Focussing on generating and trading knowledge in organisations will become the norm, rather than material possessions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving forward knowing the skills and attributes<\/a> of our workforce. The need to generate and share knowledge will require innovation and creativity. Why Women in Leadership Roles is Key to Innovation! Workforces <\/a>are being driven to transform their organisations to become agile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Requiring a different type of leadership. Women are vital for this change. Bringing different skill sets. Exploring challenges with a different perspective. Future leaders will be visionaries, coaches and architects. Becoming catalyst’s for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research<\/a> indicates that having women in leadership teams improves problem solving. Provides a different perspective based on their experiences. People with different lifestyles and backgrounds challenge each other more. By breaking down personal biases forces organisations to work inclusively. Increased communication fosters creative solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In summary the data suggests that homogeneity restricts innovation. However, organisations that are dominated by any one ethnicity made worse decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Further research <\/a>highlights that women are generally more successful and outperform men when:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gender diversity<\/a> relates to more productive companies<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My children are part of the Millennial generation. Life for them was always about disruption. Born between 1981 – 1996 the millennials make up more than 52% of the current workforce. By 2025<\/a> the millennial workforce will have increased to 75% globally. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSome Millennial Characteristics!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Workforce!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Future Workforce!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The millennial workforce of the future has a different perspective of balance. Reforming workplaces. Balance will be the new currency. Change of focus around energy and freedom. Looking for inspiration not control! To be visionary.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo whats the point?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Organisations that want to be successful will be agile<\/a>. Ever changing and flexible. Morphing into a new expression. Changing culture as times and values change. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWomen in leadership roles matter?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The article also mentions, teams that have innate and acquired diversity are found to be better positioned. Understanding the changing needs required to develop winning innovations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n