Stat: Women Hold 51.4% of Management Positions

Women now hold 51.4% of managerial and professional jobs—up from 26.1% in 1980. That's a continually growing market - 100% growth in 30 years. And there's no sign of it slowing anytime soon because honestly, women are just overall better managers - especially when it comes to having the skills to manage Generation Y.

The truth is, in this time of change, the old-style "command and control" model of management is dead. Any organization that continues to embrace that model is already seriously disadvantaged in the market when it comes to recruiting and retaining quality staff. As I've said repeatedly, coaching and mentoring are the new models of management today and overwhelmingly, women are better at it than men. Here's why:

• Women adapt better to new situations.
• Women are more likely to delegate and more likely to reward people.
• Women are better inspirational mentors who encourage underlings to develop their abilities and creatively change their organizations.
• Women managers tend to have more of a desire to build than a desire to win.
• Women tend to be better than men at empowering staff.
• Women encourage openness and are more accessible.

As it turns out, men are still more confident and make quicker decisions than women in management. But when it comes to building strong Corporate Culture, women managers are more likely to have a bigger impact with their management style.

So if your organization is not yet embracing the new reality that there are more women managers than men, then you may need to rethink your Culture to figure out why.

Encouraging Your "Grasshoppers"

"If you can snatch  the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to go Grasshopper." (1970's TV Series Kung Fu)

At some point, if the teacher is a good one, the student will surpass the teacher's ability. At that point, it will be time for the student to find a new teacher because the student has achieved Excellence.

So what is the excuse of your organization? How come you don't have a continuous parade of students (employees) who are surpassing the abilities of their teachers (managers)?

The modern-day manager is supposed to be more than a policeman who passes out memos and enforces the rules. The modern-day manager is supposed to be a coach, teacher, motivational speaker, family therapist, conflict diffuser, ally, inspirational mentor and thoughtful friend. Didn't you get the memo on this?

If you're a manager, have you read a book in the last 90 days that will help you be better at any of it? Look, as a manager, you need to lead by example. If you won't do the work to improve, then don't complain when your staff won't do the work either. And, don't be surprised when their ability surpasses yours. You're standing still while they continue to grow every day on the job - regardless of whether you hold them back or not.

Here's the thing though: the moment the student surpasses the ability of the teacher, the student achieves Excellence. That means that the teacher, by comparison, is mediocre - until they learn something new.

C'mon managers, encourage your Grasshoppers. Force them to be better than you - more excellent than you. You will be doing an excellent thing for your organization.
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Kevin Burns - Excellence Attitude/Culture Strategist
Speaking Web Site http://www.kevburns.com

Creator of Filter-Free Fridays™
Creator of the 90-Day System To A Greatness Culture™

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