Who should be the boss

[ChrisNG53]

Who should be the boss?

Dave A - I appreciated the points made. Just wished for less "ambiguity" about the issue.

"Animal Farm" - in a nutshell - "cognito, ergo sum ... I am not a sheep ... and as long as people behave like sheep the evils of naked power and corruption are guaranteed ... to the detriment of humanity".

[adrianh]

But the masses are sheep, whether you like it or not.

[Dave A]

Dave A - I appreciated the points made. Just wished for less "ambiguity" about the issue.

I thought the conclusions to be drawn were staggeringly obvious. I guess I was wrong

Personally I've experienced and seen great leadership and bad leadership, and I can't say that either gender struck me as having a greater natural propensity towards being great leaders. I'd agree in a general way and at the "average" level there tends to be gender differences in style - "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" is very true.

But great leadership isn't about "average" and "typical." It's exceptional and I'd suggest stereotypes (including gender associated ones) don't apply.

[ChrisNG53]

Who should be the boss

Dave A -

But great leadership isn't about "average" and "typical." It's exceptional and I'd suggest stereotypes (including gender associated ones) don't apply.

Its why, if you read my blog post I include -

Having said that, I must confess that the two best bosses I have ever met comprised one male and one female. The former was the CEO of a company called First Colony in the US. The latter was an Irish nun who was our headmistress in 1960. The lady was light years ahead of her time, introducing sex education at our school, a concept that the whole world was still decades away from even conceiving.

The point I am making, which admittedly cannot be proved, is that, based on a lifetime experience, and the "empirical" evidence (of a pretty buggerred up male dominated world), its my view that it would be better if women were dominant in leadership posts/posotions.

[Dave A]

Tell you what - I'll happily concede that too many women are overlooked for leadership roles because they are women. Years ago I came across a sign on a desk:

A women has to be twice as good to be considered half as competent as a man. Fortunately, this is not difficult.

That was over 25 years ago. I think as a society we have made some progress since. Not there yet, but headed in the right direction.

[Chrisjan B]

Yeah - the best man for the job is a woman!

[twinscythe12332]

Sex shouldn't matter (even though, apparently, it does). Leadership skills, inter-personal skills, conflict management and a solid understanding of where the business should be going (and how to get there) make up a good boss. If you're looking for something to change, it should be the backward mindsets of previous generations in the work place.

[ChrisNG53]

Who should be the boss

If you're looking for something to change, it should be the backward mindsets of previous generations in the work place.

Oh my oh my! This is probably one of the biggest of problems causing dysfunction on a massive scale particularly as regards macro management --- i.e, the assumption that "new is better" and previous approach is to be disdained.

Based on my own experience in 3 countries of our region, this culture is widespread, particularly as regards male bosses ... and it is an absolute killer. Out goes good old fashioned common sense, in comes all sorts of new fangled "strategies", heavily laced with a plethora of "buzz words" and "corporate speak".

Result = an incredible level and amount of activity, at huge expense ... with little tangible increase in productivity and/or client/customer benefit accruing.

This is now a pandemic! I could write a book on this. In fact I am trying to unearth the author of the Peter Principle so as to hopefully induce an update of this great work.

This, of cause, does not mean that change must not occur. It absolutely must. However it should always be founded on a platform of understanding and wisdom gleaned from proven experience. Hence the diamond hard adage - there is no substitute for experience.

So please, please, please delete the words "of previous generations" from your statement. "Backward mindsets" exist in every generation.

[tec0]

If anything, the best person for any job is the person dedicated regardless of education, social stature and gender. If your drive is to succeed then you must be the boss.