Melting moments

Posted by Jenni Colwill on 29 October 2008 | 0 Comments

Isn't this great? After a few years of increasing representation of women in leadership roles, Australia (where 49% of ASX200 companies have a woman on their Board) now has slipped back behind USA (88.2%), UK (76%), South Africa (62.4%) and Canada (52.8%).

To make it worse, we are promoting fewer women into the jobs that feed into these positions.

The 2008 EOWA Australian Census of Women in Leadership results show that Australia has gone backwards in many of the statistics. For example, we had 11.4% women in executive positions in ASX200 companies in 2004. Now we have 10.7%.

In 2006, 39.5% companies had no women executives, now it is 45.5%.

Moments of success that seem to be melting away.

So what's the solution? So often people suggest that women need more leadership development opportunities, or 'networking' opportunities.

I don't agree. I think it is men who need to change.

The facts are that it is good for companies, run by men, to employ and promote women.

Firstly, women graduates now outnumber male graduates in Australia - so there is a talent pool of bright people you can draw on.

We also know that women make decisions about purchases - so if you employ women, you might be better able to identify what is attractive to this consumer group.

Another important point is that companies employing more women tend to be more profitable...see above.

For starters, perhaps CEOs, Boards and executives could face reality. Women are in the workforce, and it can be a really good thing if you are smart enough to integrate women effectively into your leadership team.

To all the men who run these companies: you are the ones who need to change - if you don't know how, ask a woman - I'm sure they will be able to suggest lots of good ideas. But you will need to listen, and then do things differently.