MarthaSimpsonCoaching corporate and personal coaching€¦ · corporate and personal coaching 1. Important characteristics of Coaching for senior women It [s collaborative nature

MarthaSimpsonCoaching corporate and personal coaching

Women Leaders or “Men in Skirts” Creating Excellence from the inside out

Integrity Independence Energy Making a Difference Creativity


When you think about women leaders, or women in the workplace generally,

what are the issues that come to mind?



Which of these issues are specific to women?




Women at Work over the last 30 years (1) •Equal Pay Act 1975 – earnings still 24% lower in 2010 (2067)

•Glass ceiling – preventing women from reaching top jobs (Powell 1999) •Glass cliff – women who do reach top jobs often find themselves in precarious and unstable roles (Ryan & Haslam 2005)



Women at Work over the last 30 years (2) •Concrete ceiling – Times, October 2008 •Work/life balance issues •In 2008 only 11% of the Directors in FTSE 100 companies are women, 2010 – 12.5%, 2011, 14.2%.... 25% by 2015?? In spite of the fact that: Companies with high numbers of women in leadership have a return on equity 35% higher than those with least women (Catalyst 2004)


Who are the women in business who have inspired you or the women you think of

when you think of women in leadership and what do we mean by leadership?



"Leadership is more about change, inspiration, setting the purpose and direction, and

building the enthusiasm, unity and 'staying-power' for the journey ahead…..”

(From The Three Levels of Leadership, J Scouller, 2011)




Critical Leadership Skills

Leading begins with……. (a) self awareness (b) developing followers (c) thinking skills (d) leading change (e) cultural awareness



Women who have led:

Brenda Barnes: • Having worked with PepsiCo for 12 years in senior

roles she became the first female president and CEO in 1996 – a job she left the following year “Trading 30,000 staff for 3 kids!”

Marta Cabrera: • Became a Vice President of JP Morgan Chase

stepped down when the “toll began to outstrip the rewards”.



Challenges women leaders face: 1. The need to create better balance between

work and personal lives

2. Little time to reflect and think strategically

3. Walking the line between being assertive, yet not aggressive

4. Managing aspects of gender relations (Cormier 2007)



Why women leaders leave

• Single top issue ‘feeling like outsiders’ – not equal partners

• Isolation – not fitting in BUT also the lack of

social networks and relationships that are critical to thriving in a leadership capacity

• Difficulties in finding an appropriate

communication style – not ‘men in skirts’



What women leaders want

• the close relationship of a coach/mentor • the trust of the organisation that they will deliver results • to preserve their quality of life • autonomy to create their own pattern of success.

(Feyerhem & Vick, 2005)



The way forward for aspiring women leaders • Coaching/Mentoring

• Confidence

• Collaboration



Figure 7 – Pre-coaching and post-coaching topic

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Post-coaching

Pre-coaching



Important characteristics of Coaching for senior women 1. It’s collaborative nature 2. It’s transformational nature 3. It nurtures the successful incubation and execution of

leadership 4. The opportunity it provides for feedback 5. The impact it has on confidence and self doubt 6. The impact it has on thinking and behaviour 7. The development of new tools and strategies 8. Increased clarity and self awareness 9. Improved life balance 10. The challenging but supportive nature of coaching.



Impact on Confidence:

Other people's negativity Excessive challenge

An unrealistic workload Lack of control

Feeling negative about yourself and assuming other people feel the same

Lack of feedback

Being listened to Feeling supported

Feeling more in control Having a sense of hopefulness

Receiving feedback

Factors which affect confidence Simpson 2008


Quotes from two coaching clients – real people – both women in leadership “I was sceptical. I have eaten my words. I am quite amazed.” “I feel I’m taking a deep breath and having another go – sort of mending my self esteem. I have to change the little voice that niggles away about my weaknesses.... I’ve decided to stop sitting in my puddle of self doubt – it’s cold and uncomfortable and I look silly!”


Documents

MarthaSimpsonCoaching corporate and personal coaching€¦ · corporate and personal coaching 1. Important characteristics of Coaching for senior women It [s collaborative nature