Supply Chain: Celebrating The Driven Woman
I was speaking to a Senior Vice President of manufacturing for a Fortune 500 supply chain last week. Let's call her Jane.
Jane and I are both women in our sixties, with similar career paths. On the call, we enjoyed reminiscing. As supply chain pioneers, we each share journeys of pain, hope, and accomplishment. Nothing came easy.
The early decades were tough for each of us, but we laughed while giving thanks that the last two decades are easier. For this, we give thanks, but let's face reality, the supply chain world is still ruled by older Caucasian men. Opportunities abound for inclusion, enlightenment, pay equality, workforce fairness, and improving job satisfaction. While improvement is great, there is still much more to do.
As I watch the string of congratulatory accolades from companies celebrating International Women's Day on Linkedin, my fingers itched to write this post. To honor Women's Day, I want to share a conversation that Jane and I had on the difference between a driven woman and a woman that is driven. Or the shift from a bossy female to a woman that is the boss. I think that we all agree that organizations should embrace a driven employee (either male or female). Driven employees get things done.
In contrast, a woman that is driven is shorthand in a male-centered industry as a strong and unpleasant personality. In my conversation with Jane, we discussed the difference. Is it the organization or the individual? I think that it is both. Jane thinks that it is primarily organizational. Please share your thoughts in the comments as we celebrate Woman's Day.
Here are my thoughts:
Affect. Women in an unbalanced workforce must push harder than their male counterparts to be heard. Dismissive males lacking this understanding may write this off as a "pushy broad." However, the enlightened male asks the question, "How can I make it easier for women to make their voices heard?"
Skills. Let's cut to the chase. Communication as almost equals in a male-dominated world is difficult. Traditional men confront while the traditional female role is to acquiesce. Conflict is a natural element of a business. So, how does a woman find the right balance? The enlightened male ensures that women have a voice while the traditional male moves aggressively for a position. The enlightened female learns the skills of influence management--active listening, appropriate use of humor, and networking. Great mentors help. The enlightened leader ensures a balanced playing field.
Management of Self. A woman's voice pushing hard to be heard in a male-dominated workforce may sound harsh. Perhaps the aggression in tonality puts the group on edge. Instead of taking offense, lend a hand. Help women to feel accepted. When you do, the body language and voice intonations relax. The difference may be in the design of the organization. If not, try to raise awareness with the talented female leader to better manage self.
Today, only 35% of supply chain leadership jobs are held by women. We have a long way to go for equality, but the difference between a driven woman and a woman that is driven may lay in your hands. We all need driven employees.
CEO at DBM Association
3 年Insightful blog post, Lora! You posed so many good questions. It's true that women in an unbalanced workforce must strive harder for success than their male counterparts. It is up to the organization and leadership team to work on balancing the playing field. I encourage women and male allies alike to speak up for our equal opportunities, especially in male-dominated fields like supply chain.
Working to end the political insanity anyway I can
3 年Thank you Lora for these words to ponder. as a “Jane” in the room I can certainly relate... I have so much to say...but for now, let’s keep finding the best talent and allowing people to be who they are. And be thankful women no longer need to emulate a male to be heard
Chief Marketing Officer
3 年I love this: "The enlightened leader ensures a balanced playing field." So simple and true, regardless of gender. #supplychain #IWD2021
Business Excellence : Performance - Managed Services | Enterprise Cloud
3 年Similar to the deep dive insights on Supply Chain , this article also brings up the key ingredients of success for the Driven Women : Many of them would certainly be inspired and look upon you Lora for the continued endeavor ??♀?
Helping businesses transform their Supply Chains | Connector I Optimist I DEIB Champion
3 年I agree with you Lora. It is ‘both’. How often do we hear ‘why didn’t they speak up’ vs. ‘why didn’t they ask’. Cultural differences also play a huge role. It goes both ways. Organisations who encourage their employees to be themselves & allow them to speak up will do better on all fronts. No doubt.