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THE TIME HAS come to reframe the gender issue. Sixty percent of the world’s university graduates are women, and women control the majority of consumer goods buying decisions. Women run a bunch of countries and a bunch of companies. Time to shift the discussion away from a lingering women’s problem or an issue of equality and instead focus on this as a massive opportunity.
Instead of more debates about the issues (like pay, parity and promotion), let’s present new solutions: roadmaps to economies and companies that are better balanced, that help leaders understand and benefit from shifting global gender realities. We know what works now – and what doesn’t: so let’s stop fixing the women and start building the leadership skills and organisational cultures that enable balance and tap into the resulting competitive edge.
Smart public and private sector leaders have understood that gender balance delivers better and more sustainable performance. Now there is even enough research to prove it. While the sceptics will spend another decade resisting the trends with demands to prove causality, the best leaders prefer leading the charge to trailing it. So it now makes sense to focus on the leadership competencies that enable certain leaders to build gender-balanced organisations.
Building a gender-balanced organisation takes skill, determination, and courage. It does not come naturally. It must be taught, role modeled and rewarded. That’s what the best companies do. They put the focus and the accountability where change happens: on the leaders who have the power to change the rules of the game.
Here are three that would hugely accelerate change:
1. Build Gender Bilingual Skills
Recognise that most managers and CEOs (both male and female) are totally uneducated in all things gender. That’s why they make embarrassing mistakes, like Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, recently did, suggesting that women don’t need to ask for raises, but should rather trust in the ‘system’. It went embarassingly global and viral, which makes other leaders all the more nervous about addressing the topic. A little coaching would go a long way. Leaders need to learn the data, the differences and the opportunities that await businesses that balance.
Many business leaders around the world that I have worked with have no idea that women are the majority of university graduates – from Sweden to Saudi Arabia. Well-meaning and ethical executives have been told for decades to ignore gender differences (such as different communications styles or career cycles) rather than become skilled in managing them. For the same reason (“only competence counts” is the usual refrain), they aren’t used to thinking that balance may contribute to better performance, innovation and customer connections. Educate them. Develop gender inclusive vocabulary, policies and products. Stop internal, women-only networks – replace them with mixed networks aimed at balancing management, rather than promoting women.
Rebrand all targets so that they aim for balance, (eg, anything between 40% female/60% male or 60% female/40% male), as everyone hates targets for more women (eg, 40% women). Men experience these as deeply unfair, while women are insulted at the idea of having their promotions perceived as target rather than talent-driven.
2. Enforce Transparency
Companies and countries are both still grappling with how to generalise gender balance. The EU has promoted board quotas, now introduced in seven European countries. While the UK, US and Germany resist them by agreeing to self-imposed voluntary targets. This is what the Lord Davies Report tried in the UK, with some success. The challenge is that adding a few non-execs to your board is proving a lot easier than balancing your leadership teams. Recently Google has led Silicon Valley companies in a collective and public recognition that their gender balance is not satisfactory, and published some aggregate statistics.
The corporate world is gradually responding to the pressure for greater transparency on their internal reality, which up to now has been jealously guarded. It would help to come clean. So that we can really compare apples with apples and countries to countries. Rather than legislating quotas, why not impose the publication of companies’ gender balance statistics beyond the visible boards? From the CEO down three levels, for example. In the annual report. That would allow everyone from talented graduates to savvy investors to see which companies are truly – and sustainably – gender balancing. And it would allow men and women who want to work or invest in modern workplaces to be able to identify them. What company will be credibly able to argue against transparency?
Google said it best: “It is hard to address these kinds of challenges if you’re not prepared to discuss them openly, and with the facts.” Time for companies to publish their gender data, by level – and for governments to make them to do so.
3. Shift from Maternity to Parental Leave
Apple offers four months of paternity leave. Sweden, the best-in-class country on most things gender, offers the world the model of parental leave – to be freely chosen between two parents. Germany followed suit. But Sweden added the essential kicker: fathers have a four-month minimum that they use, or lose. That is smart public policy.
This is a distant dream in most countries today, but it is the inevitable and necessary direction in which the gender-quake of the 20th century is leading us. Women will only be leaders in the numbers we need, when men are encouraged – and celebrated – for becoming fathers. Still too rare are the countries that have recognised that most children have two parents, not one mother. And most companies and managers still struggle with letting men take parental leave without it hurting their careers.
There are few areas where the laws are so out of sync with the people, who are increasingly opting for the obvious alternative: not to have any children at all. See the tumbling birth statistics globally, from Germany to Japan. But companies and business leaders don’t have to wait for governments on this one. They can lead the way. They can change their own minds and policies, and the way they talk about flexibility, careers and family responsibilities. Apple has, others will follow. It makes cents.
The world is living through one of its most historic and peaceful revolutions: the gradual rebalancing of the genders’ social, educational and economic power. We have never seen anything like it before – no wonder it is a bit confusing. This change, and its consequences, need to be better understood. It is altering the life of almost every man, woman and child on the planet. It yields opportunities, competitive advantage and, I would argue, happiness to smart countries, companies and couples. Simple, powerful and progressive. A miracle waiting to happen. But like so many bridges between men and women, you have to want it – and build it – before you can enjoy the benefits.
Avivah Wittenberg-Cox is the founder and CEO of 20-first consulting – Building Gender Balanced Businesses. Avivah will be the Keynote Speaker at the conference ‘Investing in Talent – Promoting Gender Balanced Leadership’, which will be held in Dublin Castle on 25 November. This conference is being jointly organised by the Department of Justice and Equality and Ibec and is receiving assistance from the European Union under its PROGRESS programme (2007-2013). The conference will be opened by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, and will be closed by the Minister of State with responsibility for New Communities, Culture and Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, TD. #genderbalance
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So for all Colm O’Gorman is organising and protesting he is still there to greet and welcome the pope. There’s a word for that!
@Phillip O’Brien: O Gorman also said that people should give to the poor and needy. I think he said it on way back from bank machine after collecting some of his 6 figure salary.
@Beale GAA: what would you pay an executive director? Serious q
@Phillip O’Brien: I think he was there more to hear in person what he had to say for himself after alot of will he won’t he say more than “shame and sorrow” sad excuse for a statement that was released just in time for his visit. What followed was another empty statement. I don’t get this negativity towards someone for rightfully calling out someone who ppl are fawning over. A person who has promoted individuals who have blamed homosexual community and the victims themselves in the last two weeks for the recent scandals that broke. Let’s not forget that he out of hand blaimed victims in Chile. Don’t get ye lads at all at all
@Phillip O’Brien: Colm is showing amazing strength of character to go and confront the man who blocked all his attempts to get justice for what was done to him.
He’s being respectful, he’s trying to move things forward and you want to drag him go that?
Where is your humanity and sense of compassion? What have you done to face up to things in your life that you can dismiss Colm like this?
@emer caffrey: It isn’t vile at all, it’s an accurate observation.
@Phillip O’Brien: in your ivory tower
@Phillip O’Brien: yip we all know what Colm stands for
@Beale GAA: Is it fair that you are commenting on behalf of Beale GAA? Do they know this or do you actually represent Beale GAA?
@Abbie Cranky: We’ll have to disagree on our viewpoints about Colm O’Gorman.
I’ve read about and listened to in the media many victims’ stories and they are horrific and tragic but I, personally, have always found his attitude to override his story.
I’ve also found his position in Amnesty a bit hard to take seriously.
@Phillip O’Brien: So a young child being buggered by a vile thing,loses any ‘sympathy’ that you ever had for them,’cos he has some attitude about it….awww,you poor sensitive pet..
@Phillip O’Brien: so basically you don’t agree with stances that he has as head of amnesty such as being against banning the burka etc so you don’t agree with his beliefs or like him as a person and you’re allowing that to influence you here??!
@Phillip O’Brien: a person sexually abused by the church wanted to see exactly what the pope had to say about it for himself. I fail to see any issue with that.
@Phillip O’Brien: sounds like you believe the victims should hide away and stay silent, rather than face the leader of the organisation that violated him.
Old Ireland is alive and well, get up off your knees.
@emer caffrey: no it isn’t
@Ian Walsh: you wouldn’t have the balls to say that to my face keyboard warrior
@Beale GAA: that’s a pretty nasty thing for a GAA club to be saying. Attacking Colm O’ Gorman – is this official Beale GAA policy?
@Irish Cottage Rental: I would imagine that it was not deliberate and not on behalf of Beale Gaa, as the journal.ie is linked to a twitter accounts and the person who posted surely meant to post from personal and forgot to change name. An error and I’m sure the person is mortified.
The journal will not remove posts that were accidentally posted such as above even when you ask them to remove them.
I’ve no doubt you are smart enough to know this but you are not happy with the comment and wish to attack the individual in another manner
@eric nelligan: methinks twas yourself
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: Yes Guttersmite, is it a question of the pot and the kettle?
@Martin O’Reilly: explain yourself man!
Could you not just take one weekend off Colm ? Not all priests where monsters. People of faith live longer happier lives and while some are blind and ignorant many of them are good decent people. Just let them have their day in the sun. You can recommence your just cause in the middle of next week.
@Joseph Caulfield: yes why can’t an abuse victim just act like nothing happened and welcome the pope with open arms.
@Joseph Caulfield: no, the time is now, you know why the time is now? Because when we are discussing child rape, abuse and murder the time is always now, this very minute and always will be.
I5 says so much more about you that you think it should not be.
@Joseph Caulfield: middle of next week is when you will hear less of him. Now is the time to call this sham artist out. On rte they realised it was a flat statement and came out with “oh he will be speaking three more times so expect more” line. Colm is actually calling him out to give him an opportunity. If the next one is as flat as that one then the church are clearly as happy as ever to cut off their nose to spite their face.
@Sam Harms: Not what I said. Go back and read it again.
@Joseph Caulfield: Hey Joseph. Would you take a weekend off if it was you who was abused. Then ignored and refused due course?
Would you take a weekend off if it was your innocent child?
Sounds like you’ve lived a lovely life where nothing horrible has happened to you. Or were never wronged.
That or you’re someone who can’t stand up for themselves.
I feel sorry for you
@Paul Fahey: Incorrect Paul. Colm will lose sympathy and credibility.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: Colm is bizarrley very pro Islamic.
@Joseph Caulfield: Colm has no credibility he stands for nothing only his own personal self interests.
@Abbie Cranky: I don’t normally respond to fake accounts but in your case I will have to make an exception.
Thanks but there is no need for you to be worrying about me.
@paddy fox: No Paddy he still has credibility but he could throw it away. I am a big believer in freedom of religion despite the fact that I can’t remember the last time I went to mass.
@Joseph Caulfield: please use your real name so I can respond to your abuse of a rape victim
@Joseph Caulfield: only from the apologists and deflectors like you. The rest of us have deep sympathy for Colm and the rape he surrendered at the hands of catholic clergy.
@Joseph Caulfield: he’s not pro Islamic which is what many right wingers are worried by. He’s simply pro freedom of expression. I believe the burka etc inhibits integration somewhat and could go along with banning it. In this instance I don’t let my difference of opinion influence how I see colm representing survivors and challenging the Vatican like some on here appear to have. He’s a brave, courageous, outspoke individual. He’s employed by amnesty international so it’s his JOB to speak out on issues that challenge our social fabric. Don’t know why ppl aren’t getting on board with him here.
@Joseph Caulfield: well he has no credibilty in the six counties he only gets involved with causes if there is media about. For years we have been asking amnesty to help us expose state sponsored collusion but to no avail. You would nearly think they didnt care about Irish citizens being murdered in thier own country by the british govt. george soros mustn’t allow them to get involved.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: He is pro Islamic but his hypocrisy is nothing to worry about. He does not believe in peoples right to express their faith. People do sympathize with him but he is not the only person living on this island.
@Joseph Caulfield: he’s pro human rights, I know that. please define being ‘pro Islamic’ and/or evidence that shows him as such.
@Joseph Caulfield: sorry you did read what I posted above?? And you have followed recent news on the banning of the burka/hijab etc?? Colm came out and said he’s against it as it’s against ppls right to express their faith!!! Youre now truely talking through your veritable bottom!!
@paddy fox: Yeah I never understood why the trendie left always cared more about about events on other continents than events up the road.
@Joseph Caulfield: please use your real name so I can point out that this event is up the road.
@Bruce van der Gutschmitzer: Yeah he has long history of defending Muslims that’s right.
@Joseph Caulfield: if you mean denouncing the ethic cleansing of rohenga muslims, defending their right to freedom to express their religion and defending their basic human rights that he employed to do then yes he does. Your point?
@Dave O Keeffe: Is the Pope going up North ?
@Joseph Caulfield: silly me, I thought you meant in their own country.
@Dave O Keeffe: Is this the same silly you that thought Michael Cohen was in Prague?
@Joseph Caulfield: there is no such thing as part time child abusers…some people just don’t get…some people just can’t see the wood for the trees….children were abused by priests…just kids…do you not get that??and these dirty priests were then moved around so they could molest more kids…do you not get that??
@Joseph Caulfield: So brush it under the carpet. I seem to have heard this somewhere before. And the answer is No. He and other survivors will not shut up. Enough silencing has gone on in the country. Its time the silencers took a permanent rest.
@Joseph Caulfield: when did I say that oh fake one?
Virtue signaller of the highest (paid) order.
@alan doyle: He was sexually abused by a Catholic priest for 2 and half years.
@Gaius Gracchus: my guess is he wanted to see an apology in person. I can’t understand how people have a problem with this.
@alan doyle: I feel sorry for you and your children if you have any. Not the same type of ‘sorrow and shame’ that I am well accustomed to at this stage though.
@alan doyle: I genuinely thought you meant the Pope :)
It will never be enough for poor Colm. By design.
Another opportunity wasted! Colm O’Gorman is correct as always. #PopeInIreland
The visit of Jorge “Holy Father” Bergoglio to Ireland is an opportunity for his arrest & questioning. Submit to the Common Law of Man! https://t.co/xsJd8vh8KG
Colm is dead right,the catholic church in Ireland is dead,the pope should be on his knees asking for the forgiveness of the church shameful past in this country
@dick dastardly: well there’ll be 500k of them on their knees tomorrow for that God’s glue
@RossKeogh: hard to break years of brainwashing
@mark: sorry Mark I’ve not been brain washed I believe in God and the Catholic faith and yes I believe the priests that comitted these horrible crimes should be brought to justice so should all people who comitte them another people who ignore them. I am not going to stop practising my religion because of them more will I stop being a mother because some mother’s knew their children were bring molested by male relatives and did nothing about it.
The man is here for 36 hours give him a chance to respond when his audience will be at its pinnacle in the Phoenix Park tomorrow.
Francis showing himself up for the sham pope he really is
Completely correct…child abuse must be confronted, not deflected. Confront, own, protect… otherwise it’s just waffle
Maybe an apology for practising catholics will give them comfort. For the abused and damaged people an apology means nothing without real action and accountability
OGorman will never b happy.
Has his Grinch face on at every opportunity.
Not idea why anyone even asks his opinion anymore.! Yawn !
@Pinkady: he was raped by a priest repeatedly. You try smiling after that.
@Dave O Keeffe:
Colm received €300,000 in compensation in 2003 awarded by the High Court when he successfully sued the Diocese of Ferns . Bishop Eamon Walsh acting administrator at that time apologized unreservedly to Colm for all he suffered when he was abused by Sean Fortune who was sent to trial but committed suicide before the case was heard.
Colm read out a statement after the case .
Today I feel The sense of having achieved some real and significant level of Justice … for the first time the Catholic Church has finally acknowledged that they were negligent in how they handled and responded to cases of clerical sex abuse.
That was 15 years ago and I feel sorry for him as he apparently will never be able to move on.
@Aine O Connor: well the evidence of abuse and coverup continues to come out and he’s standing up for victims who have not managed to get compensation or acknowledgement.
@Oisín O’Connor:
Yes and he is a very strong advocate for all those who have not received justice.
This is a man who supports killing babies
@Paul O Faolain: him and 2/3s of the country, yes. You in the minority bbz??
@Paul O Faolain: if you have or get evidence of babies been killed please go to the Garda ASAP
The accountability is for the Catholic Church at a whole. The pope is the head and as a result carries that accountability. I’ll be thinking about every last individual who was effected by the church. The church is poison in our society
@Sarah Bourke: not only that but he also has all the documents. He’s sitting on the evidence and deliberately perpetuating the cover-up
@Sarah Bourke: the biggest peadofile group in country are actually farmers but I don’t see Colm O Gorman outside the IFA protesting !
P S I’m not one bit religious myself but we need a break from all of this !
@Dave O Keeffe: 100%
Colm ” MML” OGorman ( Media-Money-Loving) is, as always, hypocritical. What was he doing there? All image, no substance. Talks the talk, loves his Own voice, after that…????
@Margate: wanting to get an apology in person I’d say. Why are you attacking the victim of child sex abuse at the hands of the church?
Colm will be remembered for shifting the focus of Amnesty Ireland. He never seems to be in the media talking about prisoners in jails, foreign or otherwise. It’s always repeal the eight, marriage rights etc. Remember he was a Senator with the PD’s they were a caring bunch
@Brendan Grehan:
Migrants are stuck on a ship for the last 10 days and not allied ashore, that’s something he could be doing. It’s happening now.
@Brendan Grehan: yeah he seems to have conviently forgotten about the 100’s of innocent people in the north killed because of their faith by paid british agents. Hes a complete mercenary
The Pope did not ‘apologize’ deliberately, in order 2 anger the Sheeple & ‘Herd’ them against the Church, 4 Cultural Marxism, 2 separate Church+State, & bring in changes like Gender Choice Manipulation of Minors in Schools. FG will RIG that Referendum too. Colm knows the Agenda, he works for a Soros ‘Front’ NGO, Amnesty.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/oct/14/more-scheming-outside-the-synod-soros-foundation-r/
Soros-Francis Connection DC LEAKS
https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2763-dcleaks-bombshell-the-soros-francis-connection
It is Pope Francis duty to change the monolith that has hidden away this abuse and make a better future all the people who believe in the Church and the generations to enjoy the blessings that God can bestow. It is not his duty to dwell on 2000 years of wrong. Should he apologise for inquisition or the failure to resist the Nazi murders of many people’s including jews. Let him secure the future of our children and look to safeguarding all kids.
The Pope did not ‘apologize’ deliberately…., 2 anger the Sheeple so they would be herded against the Church, 4 Cultural Marxism, 2 Remove Ireland’s ‘Christian’ Identity, separate Church+State, & bring in Gender Choice Manipulation of Minors in Schools. FG will RIG that Referendum too.
Colm knows the Agenda, he works for a Soros ‘Front’ NGO, Shamnesty.
Soros-Francis Connection DC LEAKS
https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2763-dcleaks-bombshell-the-soros-francis-connection
@Fionn_Oisín: you okay luv? I have a defibrillator and first response kit here, or will I call someone for you?
Ye poor thing x
@Fionn_Oisín: check out there article from today about how paedophile priests are really just gay priests. They sure do seem like a solid source.
And there in lies the reason I won’t be paying him a visit in the phoenix park tomorrow.
I wonder if Colm O Gorman had a chance again would he ,,, decide NOT to go to the falsehood that is this RCC circus ??
The very strange case of Colm O’Gorman.
Every caring human will have deep sympathy for all those subjected to clerical abuse, & want appropriate care for them.
However, the tone & demands streaming forth from the spokesperson come over as vengeful & compensatory in emphasis, rather than remedial & reformative.
This is the head of Amnesty international which “looks after” the human rights of people yet support a mother killing her own baby in the womb
Colm I have the greatest of respect for you but please how many times can he say sorry??
He has apologised. Colm you are a sanctimonious child killing hypocrite. Tell me again, how during the abortion referendum you cared about child abuse, I need a good laugh! I look forward to your apology for the intentional kiling of the silent innocent defenceless babies who wont have any grave? You and your organisation are a sham. But, hey big salaries for years to come ala George Soros
Well Colm, what do you expect from a pig? only a grunt. Good luck to you
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