Most men are fine with women running companies but not the government, study says
We've still got a way to go.
Women can run businesses but Americans don't want them in office.
Back in 2018, a survey found that Americans are more in favor of a female CEO than a female head of government. According to the TheReykjavik Index for Leadership, which was conducted by data and consultancy company Kantar in order to measure how people feel about women in leadership, 65 percent of Americans feel “very comfortable with the idea of a female CEO, but only 5 percent feel the same way about a female head of government.
\u201cThis is a fascinating, frustrating and important new index: \u201cThe evidence shows that we have a long way to go before equality in leadership between men and women is the social norm.\u201d Reykjavik Index For Leadership \n#equality #womenleaders\u201d— Women's Forum of New York (@Women's Forum of New York) 1543524939
The study was conducted between September and October, and interviewed over 10,000 people in each of the G7 countries.
\u201cDiscussion of the \u201eReykjavik Index For Leadership\u201c at the Women Leaders Global Forum. There is so much more to do to tackle unconscious bias as well as explicit bias that prevent gender equality become reality. \u2069#WomenLeadersIceland #Diversity #Leaders #Power\u201d— H D Werner (@H D Werner) 1543364925
Interestingly, the United States ranked third in comfortability with a female head of government, but first with a female CEO.
Here’s how the G7countries ranked in terms of feeling “Very comfortable” with a female head of government:
1. United Kingdom, 58percent
2. Canada, 57 percent
3. United States, 52 percent
4. Italy, 42 percent
5. France, 40 percent
6. Germany, 26 percent
7. Japan, 23 percent
And how the G7 countries ranked in terms of feeling “Very comfortable” with a female CEO:
1. United States, 63 percent
2. Canada (tied), 59 percent
3. United Kingdom (tied), 59 percent
4. France, 44 percent
5. Italy, 42 percent
6. Germany, 29 percent
7. Japan, 24 percent
It looks like your daughter stands a chance of becoming the next Theresa May in England, but in America, she’d be better off striving to become the next Indra Nooyi.
With that said, the study has been lauded as a step in the right direction for increasing the transparency of public opinion.
23%of german men feel comfortable with having a womanceo...
THIS IS SO 1950
Check out theReykjavik Index for Leadership.#PowerTogether#WomenLeadersIceland@WPLGlobalForum@Kantarpic.twitter.com/Q2y8Stz1AW
—Henrike von Platen (@henrikeVplaten) November27, 2018
\u201cThe Reykjavik Index for Leadership: @Michel1eH presents @Kantar research on perceptions values and attitudes towards men and women being seen as equally suitable for leadership in #G7 - Panelists : keep quotas as a permanent nudge for structural changes to lead to cultural change\u201d— Anne Tamara (@Anne Tamara) 1543337032
This article originally appeared on 12.23.18
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.