International Men's Day 2024 - Time for a Change?

Earlier this year I spoke at the 美国哈佛商学院 European Conference about diversity and equity and in my speech, I talked about the impact that the last 20 years of division and tribalism between diverse groups and in particular all groups against White heterosexual men had caused some unexpected and frankly unwelcome impacts.

I talked about the need for more balance in our approach, our perspectives and a good dose of grace and empathy. I shared my view that organisationally we should be embracing the concept of equilibrium. An acceptance that other perspectives exist. And only when this acknowledgement is made will we find ourselves closer to the elusive balance that may hold within it the positivity and peace that we all crave.

Since I delivered those messages earlier this year it feels like the divides have deepened and the concept of balance is becoming increasingly difficult for people to embrace yet I remain hopeful.

That is why today on International Men’s Day I am choosing to proudly celebrate men. Globally they share about half of the planet with others and yet over the past two decades the very profession that I was proud to be in for a long time has sought to demonise men and act as if societal ills are solely because of men.

I’ve said something similar before and got shouted down, so I am going to share three reasons why I champion men as much as I champion women:

1.?????? Primarily, I am a daughter, sister, niece and now mother to a son. I love men and I can see clearly how my life is enhanced by their presence. I get sound advice, and different perspectives form them both professionally and personally and I value this immensely.

2.?????? The patriarchal society that many of us lament is promulgated by continued actions by a range of people not just men. Continued focus on the demonisation of men is so unhelpful and its time for us ALL to take stock of what we can do differently to achieve organisational and societal outcomes that benefit all.

3.?????? I don’t believe that we should continue to highlight and accelerate the concept of the abused becomes the abuser. This makes me deeply uncomfortable and most people will agree but when we ask questions like why don’t women vote for women and why don’t female leaders “do more” for other women then we are basically saying the nepotism we accuse men of is something we are comfortable with if women can start doing it as well. WRONG message – WRONG outcome!

Now, I imagine this messaging may be surprising for someone who has advocated for diversity, equity and inclusion in the past, from someone who says she is a feminist, which I am, but above all else I am a humanist and by centering my practice on engaging with recognising the humanity of each person it helps me to consider that supporting men as much as I support women will create the space for collective healing and growth which we will all benefit from.? Clearly our past approach of grouping and separation is simply not working.

Is it time to try something new?

At Oliver Wyman , I prioritise three small but impactful actions:

• I am intentional with language Gender BALANCE is the outcome we want; therefore, I ask that we minimise and largely eradicate the use of phrases such as “we need more women.”

• I spend significant amounts of time talking to men to understand how they experience the firm. My role as Global Director of People Experience recognises that I focus on every person and how they connect and grow within the organisation. I’m fascinated by the learnings I have already had in less than a year doing this role to understand what more I can do to influence a culture of openness where men feel as if I and my team care about them. There’s a real confusion for men when I tell them I care about their perspectives. I want to change that.
• I coach everyone to always flip the script. If you wouldn’t say it to a woman or treat a woman in that way, would you do it for or to a man? If it doesn’t pass the sniff test for women, then don’t subject men to it!

So, in closing I guess I am a feminist who recognises that to drive progress for women and everyone else we can’t ignore men.? So today I choose to celebrate men.

Thanks to my dad, godfather, brothers, uncles, grandfather, godbrothers, my son and partner for bringing that male energy into my life which has given me a more rounded approach.

Happy International Men’s Day lads =)

?

#internationalmensday #internationalmensday2024 #cultureofequilibrium #malerolemodels #leadership #organisationalculture #culturechange #responsiblebusiness