Let’s Help Our Ladies To Rise Up!

There’s a disproportionate number of women in leadership positions.

We need to press on to find out why there’s a disproportionate number of women in leadership positions and take proactive actions to resolve the issue.

After all, women hold up half of the sky for us.

More importantly, if we don’t leverage on women’s talents, we may not be tapping on the full potential of our human resources toimprove productivity and competitiveness;

We may not be tapping on the strengths of women to achieve greater good for our future.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Singapore “can rely on the most flexible and the second most attractive labor market in the world, although the participation of women in the workforce remains relatively low (75th).”

The WEF also states that “expansion of opportunities for women has the potential to transform the economies, societies and demographics of countries as a whole.”

Having said that, I’m not suggesting that there should be a quota for female leaders in every organization.

Meritocracy should still apply.

Gender parity should not be practiced blindly. It should not affect overall effectiveness, efficiency and results.

On the other hand, not addressing gender parity may cause a cascade of negative consequences.

If there’s no women or a lack of women in leadership position, the organization may have planning myopia.

They may not have a proper perspective of female stakeholders, including employees and customers and get a more complete feedback from them.

For example, it may be better for a female leader in engineering to convince other females to take up engineering courses and careers.

When there’s diversity in the leadership, there’ll be a diversity of ideas. It can also help to contribute to more innovative ideas.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Singapore “can rely on the most flexible and the second most attractive labor market in the world, although the participation of women in the workforce remains relatively low (75th).”

The WEF also states that “expansion of opportunities for women has the potential to transform the economies, societies and demographics of countries as a whole.”

History has shown that both men and women can be great leaders.
We have seen women proving their worth in formal education, in workplaces, in governments, and in many other organisations.

Many are currently leading major organisations and delivering commendable results.

Women can lead or complement men in fulfilling a mission and carrying out an operation.

However, women still have to break the glass ceiling in many quarters of society.

There are many underlying issues that have not been fully addressed in helping women take up leadership positions.

Truth be told, there are many women who have to play on an un-level playing field right from birth.
For them to rise up to lead, they have to face deep-seated biases and prejudices.

They have to face greater odds to stand out from the crowd and lead in the front.

In addition, they may face other disadvantages throughout their lives.

In many parts of the world, there are still many stereotypes about women’s positions in society.

Women are not generally accepted to lead and run an organization.

They have to work harder to prove their worth and find their places under the organizational sun.

In many households, women are still expected to do most of the work of looking after the households.

They have to juggle their work and personal time with their motherly role of looking after the children.

Sometimes, they have to be full-time mothers and full-time workers at the same time.

In some old boys’ formal and informal networks, there’s an unwritten, unconscious, uninformed and unchanging attitude towards promoting women at the highest levels.

This attitude may be subtlety camouflaged within the psyche and in the culture over a long period of time.

For humanity to progress and take ourselves to a higher level, we need to help women all over the world to expand their potentials and pursue their passions in life.

Let us help them enjoy equal rights and opportunities and maximize their contributions to their loved ones, communities, workplaces and society.

We can certainly do more and do better to help them enjoy their rightful places in leadership positions and in other aspects of life.

Go4It!

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Please ‘Like’ me on https://m.facebook.com/patrickliewsg

Please visit my website, http://www.patrickliew.net

Follow me on:
https://www.quora.com/profile/Patrick-Liew-5

Visit my Inspiration blog at https://liewinspiration.wordpress.com/

For my opinions on social affairs, please visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com/

Let’s connect on instagram.com/patrickliewsg
– via @patrickliewsg

https://twitter.com/patrickliew77
– via @patrickliew77

My LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/in/liewpatrick

Please read my reflections and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!