Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

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  1

  liddings

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  This is definitely a "persistant bias". Female execs have immense vision, unfortunately they are too often held back by "others" who are either rigid, lack vision themselves, and/or do not have the courage to change for the benefit of the company and its employees as a whole. For too long now women have continually been "brushed aside" and ignored. It's a shame. The companies that listen to their visionary women execs are much better off! Let's not forget the number of people who like to "steal" ideas and visions and take the credit for themselves. True, it happens everyday.

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  2

  e.hodgson

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Not a case of women lacking vision - more the case of what 'vision' is, plus fact that women are still not having the opportunity to realize that 'vision'. As liddings suggests, bias still exists, and I believe the reasons are entrenched in education and economics; together these set the bar both in real and aspirational terms for females across the globe. It's a complex issue that cannot be given adequate justice on this single blog - and one that I'd like to see explored at greater length...
  

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  3

  may08

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I believe women have a tougher time getting heard in general so they tend to focus energy on the "right now" to get a job done. Seldom are they given the same considerations for the long-term vision that men are simply because that vision more than likely is a departure from the common and familiar. Just like the woman is in most top level positions today - which is still a shame.

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  4

  sraghavan

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  What kind of women are you surrounded by ?

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  5

  Small Biz CEO

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Wow, this is quite sad in 2009. Women do not lack vision but mamy times those around them are intimidated by them, especially when they are as frank as their male counterparts. What is seen a beeing assertive in men is viewed as agressive in women. Those men who are comfortable in their own skin and view women as their equals have no issues when a woman speaks up and has a different view. Unfortunately there are far more men who are insecure around a strong woman.
  
  Bottom line is that vision isn't a matter of sex but of open mindedness. But vision without leadership and execution has little value regardless of where the idea came from.

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  6

  Amillman

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I work mostly with women entrepreneurs and there is certainly no lack of vision among this extraordinary group. Perhaps the migration from the corporation to running your own business is the result of women finding another more satisfying venue to realize their vision.

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  7

  MVanderford

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  When women describe their vision -- men hear nagging.
  
  What does she want now? A streamlined product development process? An energized sales force? An improved mentoring program? Will she never be happy?

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  8

  mmmmm2

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  what a load. of course women have vision. it is sad that this sort of question is even being put.

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  9

  PerspectiveInAction

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Some of the most visionary executives I have worked with in my excecutive coaching practice are women.

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  10

  sthnn

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Agree ? there is much more to this than a short blog can cover.
  If the definition of "vision" in this blog means coming up with a new idea for the future direction & vocalising each group meeting, then yes the female leaders I admire lack this "vision".
  However, for a true discussion with depth, consideration, facts, and the ability to consider and handle future change - then I have met both male & females that are fantastic. So not only is the idea vocalised a vision but the current & perceivable future circumstances influencing the idea is envisioned and considered as well.
  Sadly I have also meet companies that prefer an overly loud poorly thought out but immediately offered (knee-jerk reaction) idea (& the associated scapegoat if it fails) over an appropriately timed & balanced investigation of all options.
  Has the observation of this Blog become a Product of nowadays living:
  Inconvenience / Problem + Pill = Solution. . . . . NEXT!
  Traditionally (seeing as we are using generalised social & sex based role assumptions) females don?t do short term thinking. Guys think in unrelated single occurrences (hungry then eat: what to eat, or is dinner soon is ANOTHER totally unrelated single occurrence to be covered in a separate thought pattern should it be necessary ? please don?t make me define necessary in single guy thoughts): Gals think in the compounding domino effect (this makes that, which causes that, which means . . .).
  So a single thought vision has historically been the business & military way.
  As times change and more women are welcomed into positions of power then more compounding domino effect visions are articulated.
  Sorry single thought ?guys? you might have to go away and think about the females vision for a little while & drag out all the individual thoughts.
  Sorry compounding domino thought ?gals? you might have to slow down, express thoughts clearly in a concise manner, repeat yourself seriously, and exercise patience.
  The combination of the two methods makes the sturdy visions that become realities.
  N.B. All men & women are capable of both types of thought (I was generalising to simplify).
  

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  11

  cyberpundit

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  The bias against women exists because most women, even those who start out all ambitious and aggressive, at some point just drop everything to start a family. Which is perfectly respectable and natural. But this means companies that have invested several thousand dollars in training and whatnot do have the right to invest it in long term scenarios.
  
  Discussions such as these do not add anything. Women do NOT categorically lack vision or any other soft skill that men bring to the table. I am completely equal that way.
  
  But the family thing is, and perhaps should be, a priority for women -- no one can hold a family together like a woman can, that's simple biology, and a perfectly respectable "job" regardless of what the idiotic swinging sixties may have done to confuse all these gender debates.
  
  Silly article, and I am surprised INSEAD had the time and gall to waste its funding on this drivel.

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  12

  Capt.Nagaraj

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Probably the do not & would make great leaders. However looking at it from a cultural point of view, women from an Eastern culture have a greater issue in being taken seriously by their fellow workers.
  Until women are taken seriously as a long distance career performer different biases against their upward progress would be seen.
  Tge woman is still seen as a workplace interloper.

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  13

  zackney

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  absolutely! I thought she was writing about me! It's a catchier headline to say "women lack vision" but I think to be fair (it IS 2009) it's more (as you say) that women communicate about our visions differently than men, and I agree that many men find it not as "credible" b/c it may not appear to be spontaneous enough. Many times its an "intuition" thing but I don't speak up b/c I don't have the DATA to back me up (yet). I want to investigate before I stick my neck out. I am also suspect about people authoritatively popping out with visionary statments with a "foregone conclusion" tone such that it's not really intended to be challenged. And to challenge men like that sometimes takes more energy than I am willing to expend.

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  14

  Trailmaps

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Of course women, as a group, lack the vision of men, as a group. Otherwise the sterotype wouldnt exist. Men tend to be competitive and a vision is a means to winning or at least improving.
  
  Women, as a group, tend to want everything "fair" or "equal". As in "everyone bring a dish", "One price car lots", bunko instead of poker, and of course the typical "what difference does it make who wins, its just a game".
  

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  SkyWriter012

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  The headline makes me (a woman) want to unsubscribe. Aren't we post-feminist by now?
  
  Of course there are differences between men and women, but when we're talking about business and leadership, it's about the person.
  
  I will bet that everyone reading this knows at least a couple of male leaders to whom all of the points in the article may be ascribed.
  
  Is that audacious enough for you?

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  tracydiziere&associates

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  My problem with this article is the advice to "get out and network." Isn't that the exact opposite of creating a vision indpendently, as is valued by male evaluators per item #1? Completely contradictory.

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  DeonBasson

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  How men and women differ especially on the visionary.
  
  Please see a summary of the report below which I produced about 3 months ago. It was based on men and women doing exactly the same profile analysis and the stats were based on actual data in the database. For the full report go to
  
  www.2interact.com and click on "Brainwaves"
  
  or follow the big blue arrow to do your own profile for free.
  
  Brainwave 1 : How men and women differ in their thinking
  
  If you want things done and also focus on people issues, give it to women; but if you want someone to analyse and to look at the bigger picture give it to men.
  
  The above statement is based on our total database and therefore fairly accurate. An important remark is that if your profile does not match the general average?it does not mean you are the wrong gender as the statements are made based on the average. Inside that average you might find people of the same gender differing dramatically.
  
  The clear distinction between women and men are the following :
  
  Methodical : The biggest of the differences in the 4 areas is that women are far more methodical, which means on average they get things done more than men.
  
  Visionary : The second biggest difference where men score far more than women. So if you want to change things or take risks rather ask men (it does not mean they can get it done).
  
  Analytical : Men outscore women slightly which means they should know how things work slightly better.
  
  Connected : Women outscore men marginally (to be expected).
  
  The following thinking sequence is also based on the statistics, and please do remember that if you do differ from this in your profile it does not mean you are ?wrong? in your gender, but rather that you operate slightly differently.
  
  Sequence of thinking for women :
  
  Methodical, Connected, Analytical and lastly Visionary.
  
  The meaning is that more women than men communicate by following a process in their thinking and also communicate based on what it means for the people. So men in general make sure you need to know that women place certainty and people first and therefore you need to prepare better on this.
  
  
  
  Sequence of thinking for men :
  
  Analytical, Visionary, Connected, Methodical.
  
  When most men communicate they will analyse the facts and figures and then try to understand/create the bigger picture and possibly take some risk. Women need to understand that fewer men than women will follow a method or process and might appear all over the place.
  
  THE IMPORTANT POINT IS NOT TO GET LOST IN THE GENERALISATIONS, BUT RATHER TO FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH, AND TRY TO SPEAK THEIR PREFERENCE IN THINKING? e.g. IF A PERSON IS METHODICAL THEN MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PROCESS AND STRUCTURE AND NOT TO BLAST THEM WITH NEW IDEAS IF YOU ARE VISIONARY. WATCH THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE SUCCESS OF YOUR COMMUNICATION IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
  
  To do your profile go to www.2interact.com and follow the big blue arrow (it is free).

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  18

  chandrima.sgit@...

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Absolutely not! Women are visionary, it is just how they are percieved in a work environment dominated by male execs, and the opportunity they have to realize their visions.
  
  Have companies who have women execs at the top failed?

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  19

  dzaitman

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  This is a ridiculous question! I can't believe it is even being posed in this day and age. Shame on you Bnet.

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  20

  amajid

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  What's the big deal? I don't see reason here to get outraged or dissapointed. Why do we tend to believe that women or men should have ALL the skills in everyone of us, and that those skills MUST be either equally strong or weak? If this study shows one weaker in a certain area, well she can be STRONGER in another area ( skill ). I beleive that the underlying problem is with US...our perspective....look at this blog!!!so many of us saying...Oh! what a shame? this is bias!!!!!
  We dont have to be hypocrites.

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  21

  ilipasti

  02/24/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Despite being viewed as completely politically incorrect, I would support the findings o n a v e r a g e. There are always women with great audacious goals, but I would argue (based on statistical evidence on 360 reviews in a global consulting company with over 100 000 employees combined with in-dept interviews in my role as equal opportunitu -task force leader) that many women are more happy with producing concrete resultsn o w than thinking about big picture. This may be the results of upbringing and cultural bias combined with real differences in the way the brain works.

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  JohnnyJack

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  The biggest weakness that American women have is the inability to accept data when it indicates male superiority. When studies show that women have better social or verbal skills, men say, "That sounds right". When studies show that women are weaker at math, at "vision" or at anything else, then men are to blame. Fairness, accepting facts, is one of several reasons that men make it to the top. Women changed the SAT math section because men scored more highly on it (it is now more verbal).

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  23

  jsargent

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Indeed women do have "get thing done" attitude. This is both good and bad. The good side is obvious, the bad side is that they may ignore the need to take risks. Unfortunately, if you aren't a risk taker then your chances of winning in life tend to be lower.
  Very often risk-takers are considered as bullsh!t artists but in business risk-taking is a necessary ingredient for a progressive and successful business.

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  DebF

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  It's the usual thing. Men are perceived as having something called "vision", which is often a more palatable way of saying that they want to go in a particular direction regardless of whether it's practical. Because this is a male trait, it's seen as being very important in an executive. But where should it really rank among the necessary leadership qualities? Is it really more important than (to take an example from above) communication skills?

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  tourismgirl

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Perhaps it isn't that women are less visionary, but that those in corporate America are risk averse because the rewards for success are much less and the consequences of failure much greater for women than for men.
  
  A British study found that male executives who turn around financially lagging companies receive increased rewards in their bonus checks of more than 260%. Women in the same situation can expect a jump of about 4%. http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/10/highest-paid-women-lead-cz_jd_0910women_essay.html
  
  It appears that even when they accomplish the same feat as their male counterparts, women's work is less valued and recognized on its own merits.
  
  Women in the corporate world have historically been encouraged to take positions that reinforce the status quo...administrative assistances, HR, public relations. Not only have they not been adequately rewarded for rising above their traditional place in the corporate heirarchy, many have been forced out of the corporate heirarchy altogether.
  
  I would argue that it isn't so much that women with executive qualities aren't visionaries as it is that women visionaries do not stay in corporate America. Instead, they leave to run their own companies, start non-profits, change the world through philanthropic efforts, and even leave to serve as trusted confidantes and mentors to spousal CEO's, a la Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.
  
  I would also propose that the definition of executive is narrowly defined to leave out entrpreneurial powerhouses such as Julia Child, Madonna, Martha Stewart, JK Rowling, Opra Winfrey, and Rachel Ray...women of vision whom others might not take seriously as CEO's, but who have by every measure achieved phenomenal success in their chosen fields.

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  26

  Paul Hollins

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I'm certainly not conviced in respect of the subsatnce of this research or at least the broad assertions in the article based on the "findings". this appears to be gross over generalisation based on "headlining "gender themes.

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  27

  Ania Levy

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Yeah, my visionary sits on the couch and imagines
  he's in charge. He does the same thing at work.
  
  I know he's not smarter than me, but I tell him he is.
  He's easier to control that way. It's like that at work
  too.
  
  Men aren't more visionary than women. They're just
  louder. They don't want to keep their nose to the
  grindstone to get things done. If they did that, there
  would be less time to crow about their vision. It's like
  that at home, too.
  
  Of course, without women, they wouldn't be here and
  that recognition leads to a deeply buried (or not)
  resentment of a woman's ability to actually produce
  another person. It's like that at work too. Men like to
  express their vision, but it's the women that are more
  likely to get the job done.
  
  Oh, yeah . . . I almost forgot . . . how many female
  execs did you count sitting in Washington at those
  congressional hearings trying to explain their
  corporate vision? It's going to be like that at home
  too - for a long, long time
  
  We are all products of our societies. Men with greying
  hair are considered distinguished. Women with greying
  hair are considered extinguished. An aggressive man
  is described as tenacious. An aggressive woman is
  called a lot of different names, none complimentary.
  Many women are king makers and not for lack of
  ambition, but out of a natural instinct to survive.
  
  In nature, females are usually not as competitive as
  men because that behavior leads to challenges which
  lead to possible injuries or death and the female is
  needed to keep the species alive and relevant. It's like
  that at work, too.
  
  
  

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  28

  lbdg

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  "get out (...) and start networking"... If it were as simple as it sounds... First, you can't really network within your minority: 10% of the workforce in the company I am in, including support staff. Once you take the assistants and HR team out, there are hardly any other women left, and they are almost all junior employees.
  Networking with men when you are a woman presents some difficulties. I can speak only of my European experience: first there is a bias that you are a nice-to-have element that everybody expects to get pregnant around 30 and clear out of the corporate world. So why would the guys want to network with you in the first place? You get more feedback on the way you dress or your attitude than the quality of your work. You always have to be cautious that your networking is not misunderstood for flirting. Some guys will be paternalistic, other totally agressive and negative. Then you do not have the natural ice-breakers that are alcohol drinking and soccer. Well I don't and many women I know are in the same case. Talking about vision, my idea to add a second ball, a pool of mud and to undress the teams to finally make soccer interesting wasn't well received by my male colleagues...

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  29

  FranFish

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Do we really need to hear this type of tosh?
  
  The clue here is that this study is based on '360 degree feedback'. As we work in a world where we're (still) fighting stereotypes, people will feedback they're stereotypical views.
  
  Yes women have vision.
  Yes women can deliver on that vision.
  The end.
  
  Give us a study that helps breaks the stereotypes.

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  30

  carabu

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  It seems to me that woman executives see things in the broader sense than their counterparts. Since men tend to think in a compartmentalized fashion they often miss the peripherals surrounding an issue (obvious when you are trying to talk to them in detail - generally they are only interested in the bare bone facts). Women on the other hand will survey all the extemperaneous details to see if the decision effects those other areas surrounding the issue. Both men and women are guilty of lack of vision, but after 200 + years of being led by men, you can see that the vision remains, well, just about the same.

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  31

  CPRey

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Hmmm. I've seen lots of stories about how women are superior communicators...better than men. And, there's research to prove it--scientific and empirical. Now, a study that says women may not be as good at visioning, and the reply posts are incredulous at the notion...even offended by the question.
  
  Is it out of the question that women are wired a bit differently so as to be less visionary? Could it be that the very things that make women so much better at 'being in the moment' are the same things that make them less prone to 'be somewhere else/in the future?'
  
  This is not rocket science, people. It also doesn't mean that women can't be successful executives. Some of the coping mechanisms are in the story...for women to work collaboratively, etc., which can arguably be a better way to develop vision.
  
  Women are different. Not better or worse. Different. Get over it.

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  32

  lconsulting

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I think if anyone(male or female)is not being heard within their organisation, it has more to do with the organizational culture and the relevance of the subject matter. Sometimes what is innovative to one, is irrelevant to another. In business you have to 'sell' your ideas and proposed actions to your colleagues in much the same way you sell your products and services to your clients.

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  33

  Manabozho

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  "Vision" is the name we give in hindsight to a long shot
  that worked out. Every "visionary" sits atop an
  unchronicled pyramid of lesser examples and failures,
  champions of visions that didn't work out. Being a
  visionary certainly isn't enough by itself.
  
  However, it is a business necessity. Advocates for
  "more females on executive row" will get nowhere by
  trying downplay its importance or remove "vision" from
  the list of criteria that get someone into a leadership
  role.
  
  Executive coach and recruiter Rich Hagberg spent thirty
  years gathering and analyzing data from S&P 500-level
  execs, including CEO's. Based on the most successful
  leaders' scores and profiles, he evolved a list of about
  40 attributes, which he clustered into three "pillars" of
  leadership. These are the large traits / role-
  components critical to leadership success: 1)
  Missionary evangelist 2) Builder of relationships 3)
  Executor of tasks.
  
  The highest-performing leaders' scores tended to be
  "two high scores and a medium score," with three high
  scores being exceedingly rare.
  
  Here's a hint to women with aspirations, who don't
  want to be down-graded or passed over for lack of
  "vision:"
  
  Vision has to have a substantial component of Utopian
  speculation--it's what would happen if everything went
  right
  
  Vision has to provide the rank-and-file with a
  reference point to help reduce everyday ambiguity and
  help with mundane decisions
  
  Vision should inspire the troops, and give them a
  sense that they'd rather be working here than at a
  competitor.
  
  This writer has had the experience of seeing an angry
  female exec who was passed over for a CEO job
  acknowledge later that the decision-makers were
  right--that she really didn't have a vision. She
  originally saw the CEO job as a promotion she'd
  earned, not as a qualitatively different role, with a set
  of requirements that she didn't meet as well.

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  34

  DeonBasson

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Actual data supports this, but please reread my abstracts from the report I wrote 3 months ago :
  
  We tested people (via a questionnaire) in 4 areas, namely :
  Analytical, Methodical, Connected (feel for people, team player) and Visionary. Below they are represented by A,M,C and V.
  
  The averages (out of 100 for each) were :
  
  A M V C
  Men 63 52 61 58
  Women 59 64 52 61
  
  Based on this the statistics revealed the following :
  If you want things done and also focus on people issues, give it to women; but if you want someone to analyse and to look at the bigger picture give it to men.
  
  The above statement is based on our total database and therefore fairly accurate, but it is an average and like all statistics we should guard against stereo-typing as even in a gender group people differ in a major way.
  
  But purely based on the statistical average the following can be said.
  
  Methodical : The biggest of the differences in the 4 areas is that women are far more methodical, which means on average they get things done more than men.
  
  Visionary : The second biggest difference where men score far more than women. So if you want to change things or take risks rather ask men (it does not mean they can get it done).
  
  Analytical : Men outscore women slightly which means they should know how things work slightly better.
  
  Connected : Women outscore men marginally (to be expected).
  
  THE IMPORTANT POINT IS NOT TO GET LOST IN THE GENERALISATIONS, BUT RATHER TO FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH, AND TRY TO SPEAK THEIR PREFERENCE IN THINKING? e.g. IF A PERSON IS METHODICAL THEN MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PROCESS AND STRUCTURE AND NOT TO BLAST THEM WITH NEW IDEAS IF YOU ARE VISIONARY. WATCH THE POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE SUCCESS OF YOUR COMMUNICATION IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THIS.
  
  To do your profile go to www.2interact.com and follow the big blue arrow (it is free). On the same website you will find "Brainwaves" where there is a detailed report.

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  35

  frankhurtte

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  The real question here should be: Do most humans lack vision? The answer is yes. Having a clear vision of the future and being able to stand steadfast while others around you shoot holes in your theory is not a common trait in either men or women.
  
  And, one cannot assume because someone is a good manager, salesperson, engineer, doctor, lawyer or candlestick maker; they have vision.
  
  So who has this vision stuff anyway? Well, in my mind, very few people - men or women.

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  36

  generationXpert

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  If women lack vision, why is it that the men are the ones being laid off? http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?S=9660275
  
  I think blogs like this are just meant to piss off people so you get more comments. Unfortunately I fell for it.

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  37

  commentator88

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Women in general lack vision... That's why us women bring up kids (sons and daughters) to be blind! I would suggest the study to view his/her mom and study if his/her mom lack the vision to bring them up with the "vision" of success. Women don't get heard, and we try harder and voice our vision/opinion harder, we are termed as b*tch*s. How come we don't term the men as *ssh*l*s or b*st*rds that I'll never know.
  
  Enough profanity from me this early in the morning.

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  38

  boudicca

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  No, certainly not, i seemed to have the most vision in my last company, while most of the guys were fiddling around trying to make short term gains to benefit their own careers. I think that the idea of vision is subjective so is a easy thing to knock people you don't want to succeed on during assessments as it cannot be objectively measured as a performance criteria. I would suspect that non-white people also are said to lack "vision".

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  39

  steveo@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  
  Some people seem to be very comfortable in saying that there are some things women (in general) do better, but are very uncomfortable in saying that there is ANYTHING that women (in general) do less well. Men and women are different -- so are women simply a superior gender?
  
  DebF makes a great point with: "But where should it really rank among the necessary leadership qualities?"
  
  A serious study of this might also look at other important leadership qualities.
  
  If variance among individuals can be measured, that could be compared to any appparent difference between the average of each gender. That might tell something interesting.
  
  If I were a gambling man, I'd bet that the differences among individuals dwarf any differences between the genders.

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  40

  steveo@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  deonbasson1, I somehow missed your comment.
  
  Very interesting!

•  
  41

  Mike Cudzich

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Visionaries are self absorbed and self possessed inspirational leaders who are continuously ruminating when not leading, not networking obsessed continuously communicating pluralists, hoping that some strategic way forward will appear from lots of chitter-chatter with all levels of staff, - many of whom are just there for the salary!
  
  The answer to "what is the way forward?" is not, "I want to be inclusive, - what do you think is the way forward?"; ergo, 'I have no idea, I'm just here to manage the plural talent and facilitate'. Note that Ibarra suggests this approach as a remedy to having a lack of vision!
  
  There are many women who can be and are the former, unfortunately most seem to be the latter having scored well on psychometric tests that have now been skewed to reward traditional female traits that are thought to make good managers. However Management and Leadership can be quite different things! An organization needs lots of good Managers, but it requires only one Leader!
  
  Best regards,
  
  Mike
  

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  42

  jmill100

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Bad question - research is research, it usually will say want you what. My experience is that most leaders of large, Fortune 300 companies, who are not founders, lack any vision what so ever, regardless of sex. The very nature of corporations promotes the hiring and advancement of average individuals. The higher up the food chain, the more average they become. People with true leadership skills and visions are often drummed out of companies. This is why only six of the original Fortune 500 companies are still on the list and why 50 years from now, most of the current honorees will also be gone.

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  43

  Mike Cudzich

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Visionaries are self absorbed and self possessed inspirational leaders who are continuously ruminating when not leading, not networking obsessed continuously communicating pluralists, hoping that some strategic way forward will appear from lots of chitter-chatter with all levels of staff, - many of whom are just there for the salary!
  
  The answer to "what is the way forward?" is not, "I want to be inclusive, - what do you think is the way forward?"; ergo, 'I have no idea, I'm just here to manage the plural talent and facilitate'. Note that Ibarra suggests this approach as a remedy to having a lack of vision!
  
  There are many women who can be and are the former, unfortunately most seem to be the latter having scored well on psychometric tests that have now been skewed to reward traditional female traits that are thought to make good managers. However Management and Leadership can be quite different things! An organization needs lots of good Managers, but it requires only one Leader!
  
  Best regards,
  
  Mike
  

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  44

  bdelgall

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  You should be ashamed of yourself for even posting such rubbish.
  
  Women have always been a woman's worst enemy.
  
  Write an article that shows how many women visionaries change this world every day.
  
  Oprah anyone?

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  45

  nrkelly

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I think the usage of the word vision is being confused with being an inspirational leader. The article suggests that women do not communicate their vision and for myself I would agree. I certainly have a vision, I chose to share the parts that are relevant at the time. But in the end, I know how many pieces of the puzzle actually came together. Some leaders have a vision that they try and communicate, the question is do they inspire others to live into the vision. It doesn't matter if you have a vision, if others don't follow you. Do people to jump into the fire with you, or do you have to order them to jump in? That's the difference that matters and it has absolutely nothing to do with gender.

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  46

  mmortenson

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Seriously, who cares what a survey says? Oh, maybe it is all of those analyticals out there?
  
  I am a female in business for over 28 years and very successful in the high tech industry with an electronics engineering degree, i.e. definately male dominated 28 years ago. I am analytical and have vision and have raised three children along with a full time career. Believe me that takes vision and the ability to "get things done". (BTW, my girls and boy have vision too.)
  
  Now with my 25 plus years in business I have helped several CEOs to realize their visions and have been there to clear up a few visions that were more than a bit cloudy, i.e. may be more clear in their own mind than the people that had to realize it. I didn't have any trouble getting them to see the error of their ways and come up with ways to, improvise, adapt, and overcome any obsticles (no I do not have a military background). My father was a small business owner and I learned from him. He never led me to believe there was any limitation on my ability in business or anything else for that matter, because I was female.
  
  Bottom line is I don't put a lot of credibility in surveys to tell me the way I am, it is like when my former husband read 'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus' and announced "See, that is why we don't get along, it has nothing to do with me, its the way I am wired. It says so right here!".
  
  I dare say all those visionaries out there, male or female, would not realize those visions, without those who know how to get things done. And for every vision that is realized, how many are not? It seems to me that might be more worthwhile to look at for those who do like surveys and numbers. I personally prefer results, like profit, income, and jobs for all. Let's not let surveys pigeon hole us. Know who you are and be it well! no matter what the Survey Says!
  
  

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  47

  marwan khoury

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  WOMEN HAVE AN INHERENT CHARACTERISTIC:MORE DOWN TO EARTH,MUCH MORE REALISTIC THAN MEN.THEY TEND TO HAVE "FRAMED" VISIONS, AND NOT OUT OF THE FRAME.

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  48

  SteveLanning

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  Are Women Different From Men and Vice Versa?

  Time Magazine ran a cover story a few years ago with the 'surprising' headine something like "Men and Women Really Are Different!"
  
  The article treated the news as if gravity was being discovered all over again.
  
  As leaders (of either gender--not sex) our main job is to build teams based on strengths--not politics--so that we can accomplish stuff and be more effective for the organization with each passing year.

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  49

  djgere

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  Opportunity

  What a great article, not because the information is accurate, but simply because BNET has provided women with an opportunity to state our case! From my perspective the female administrator is a fantastic planner, does multi-tasking with ease, is resilient is analytical, can operate well under pressure, processes with forward thinking, and IS an excellent visionary. Given time to research and follow studies of this nature, I?m confident that the supporting evidence can be provided.
  
  BNET?.thanks for playing this card. Whether intentionally or by accident, you have given executive material women one more tool for the tool bag.

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  50

  rrpastore

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  Not true for chief information officers

  These are interesting findings and may have validity in the larger universe of female executives. However, among executives who preside over business information technology, chief information officers, strategic vision is recognized as the top leadership competency for both men and women. No CIO can thrive without being able to express a vision for how information, data and IT systems can create or enable new services, products, market penetration and competitive advantage. It is true that women CIOs use collaboration and relationship building to sell their vision to their companies--they do this deliberately and with great effect. And they do so far more often than their male counterparts, who they say tend to rely on exerting the authority of their position to push their vision. A CIO Executive Council study on how women CIOs use influence bears this out (see report.
  More anecdotally, if you look at the 44 members of the CIO Hall of Fame--all documented highly successful visionaries--you'll find 22 percent of them are women, which is higher than the overall percentage of CIOs who are women (12 percent). Women, therefore, are over-represented at the pinnacle of the profession, thanks to their ability to have, sell and execute breakthrough vision.
  - Richard Pastore, managing director, CIO Executive Council

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  51

  Lucerosp

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  On my experience, women don't have lack of vision, but an extremely open vision that allows them to see the pro's and flaws on new project. Now, if the project has more flaws than pro's and the results aren't going to be exceptional, then you can be sure that women will play safe and they won't pursue it.
  Since most men have a lack of detail vision, they will pursue anything they might think is good, at any cost, no matter if the cost is high, if it has flaws, or if it is going to be absolutely exceptional, in the end, they might make it look not that bad, after all, nobody would know for sure.
  

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  52

  JLB87

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I've noticed that women execs don't necessarily lack vision, though some do just like how some men lack vision, but women have a different type of vision. I've noticed in my company that the women's visions are a lot more social and constricted. I say constricted in that I have noticed that if the women exec does not get everything the way she wants it (say for example someone adds or removes something from their plan to make it fit better to the company's culture) she tends to become an antagonist instead of taking it constructively and working with what she gets effectively.
  
  Overall I wouldn't say women lack vision; it's simply different and may not be in the same ball park as their superior?s vision.

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  53

  Anita Y. Mathis

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I believe a woman's caution and desire to have the buy in from those around her who would support her success may result in being less vocal about her vision for the direction of the organization.

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  54

  kolakowj@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Look, it's NOT easy to develop and gather support for a vision...ask a man. Stop whining about how hard it is and how the cards are stacked against you my the "man" and... wa, wa, wa, wa. Just do it. You don't have to change your style or be more aggressive; just do it your way. BUT. It's HARD. People aren't going to agree with you and some never will and some will fight you. You know, there are people out there that hate chocolate, ice cream, kittens, and/or believe that the earth is flat. Don't take that personally.

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  55

  margarett

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Coming from a young woman who works freelance, maybe you do not have the experience in the workforce to make such a statement. I work in the construction industry in the United States and am by far one of the most visionary executives in our company. I have developed a number of the policies we have in place and have been a huge factor in bringing the company to where it is today. This is also the case with many of my female associates and friends.

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  56

  janet lawson

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Just reading your headline made me want to unsubscribe from bnet. How about that: women are STILL compromised in the workplace because they bear children! Thanks for the reminder.
  
  I have experienced the ?professional female? inequities (pay, position, recognition) for the past 40 years. And I have had workplace experiences that would honest to God roll your socks down. I still find the situation, and your article, appalling.
  
  Most appalling of all is that nothing of significance has really changed. Men still and always will dominate the world; and the good-ole-boys are alive and well, just being a little more discreet.
  

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  57

  aparks@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  What planet are you living on? The glass cieling is still pretty much impenetrable except for the chosen few. I won't delineate the "how" of the "choosing" as that's known, code, and understood by anyone who's had a boot on your neck all your life. And yet still survivied, done "well," as one might say, and shown them. Women's wonderfully innovative ideas are just as intentionally passed over as they themselves are -- by the status quo. And still we persist. Why? Becuause we've got more inner strength, stamina, and innovation, creativity, and brains (yes, left, too), than most men. The title of the article should have been: "Why are 99% of Men Still Threatened By Smart Women"?

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  58

  jdks

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Vision is not constrained by gender. The title would have been more appropriate as "Do Execs Lack Vision?" Most of the content of the article would still apply except to add that some Execs have reached the pinnacle of their Vision and have nothing left.

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  59

  youngexplorer2ks@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Wow, this is a sensitive issue. Let's start from the beginning, are we discussing an opinion or a fact? The study seem to suggest a fact (statistic) and some of us argue that it's false. You cann't say it's false but you can say that's not representative according to your experience. Fact is one thing and what we have our own interpretations which are opinions. First and foremost, any opinion are bias. Fact are bias-free, opinion tied to personal experience, preference, belief, background, etc. What I am stating below is as close to general experience as possible. Also, I am a male.
  
  I think the study's result has more substance to it than a female reader might give it.
  
  
  As a child, have you ever dreamed of creating something so awesome, so great, so innovative that make life so much easier? I have. I dreamt about flying cars, a small device that help me access all my belong, something to wash the dishes. The boys always let imagine run wild. We fought each other with imainary advance guns, superhero abilities. I think that alot of girls would prefer a much more realistic, down to earth thinking. I know that boys like flying alot more than girls do.
  
  Boys are stupid. We do stuff that have no practical value just for acknowledgement and admiration. We would climb up to the top of the tree just for the heck of it. One might say "but you can fall". True, that's the risk of climbing it but I seriously doubt that a boy would consider it before, during and after performing such act. When we fall, we fall. Even when we felt, we just might say "That was so cool". Is there any reward for that? Nothing valuable really. That's dumb, I agree. Boys don't calculate, not as much as girls do. Would you risk everything you have to pursue a (unfounded) dream? If you say yes, more than likely you are a male, because male are just that reckless.
  
  More male are geeks, delusional, and out of touch with reality. They just do what they do, not for anything practical. I wouldn't go as far as saying that there are more insane male as well as genius male than female since that's common perception, which I can't verify.
  
  What I am trying to say is from the very early age, male already display a higher level of out of the box imagination and risk-taking attitude. Female display a more methodical and risk adverse thinking. Can that translate to a characteristic we call visionary?
  
  Not by a long shot

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  60

  roger_jolley@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Those commenting have added as much value as the article. Thank you all for sharing. I learned a few things and got useful notes for my journal.

•  
  61

  ASchm

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  This is an interesting 'observation'.
  "As a child, have you ever dreamed of creating
  something so awesome, so great, so innovative that
  make life so much easier? I have. I dreamt about flying
  cars, a small device that help me access all my belong,
  something to wash the dishes." (a wife?) "The boys
  always let imagine run wild. We fought each other with
  imainary advance guns, superhero abilities. I think that
  alot of girls would prefer a much more realistic, down
  to earth thinking. I know that boys like flying alot
  more than girls do."
  
  I was always more creative and visionary than any of
  the boys in our neighborhood. I learned from my older
  sister and other girls in our wild little band. I don't
  know about anyone else, but what I saw in school was
  this:
  Boys were rewarded for their ideas and also for
  claiming the ideas of anyone else if they could get
  away with it. (labeled "competitive" behavior)
  Girls were told to be 'proper' and polite. Dreams, ideas
  and creativity were NOT encouraged. Challenging a
  boy who freely 'borrowed' your idea was really frowned
  on. (Which meant I spent a fair amount of time being
  punished for drawing, writing my opinions and
  expressing my ideas. This was in grade school but it
  got really tough later)
  My mother and father strongly encouraged both my
  sister and I with our ideas and creative solutions, but I
  had and still have, to this day, some very rude
  awakenings when I have been assertive and presented
  those visionary ideas. I keep at it, but I have a fairly
  high emotional tolerance for pain.
  
  I also find that when people don't understand your
  ideas then they assume you obviously can't be more
  visionary then they are about a solution. Ipso Facto:
  Then it wasn't a visionary idea....
  
  I think the findings in that study are accurate.
  I also think that it is a telling piece on the influence of
  our society and shows just one more way to damage
  the fabric of our economy.
  
  A great caricature of this article and study is the 1980
  comedy movie "9 to 5" with Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin
  and Jane Fonda.

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  62

  ASchm

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I need to retract one comment from my former post:
  "I think the findings in that study are accurate."
  After looking at this all a bit closer, especially the
  following statement, I have to disagree that this is not
  a valid study and the article is really more an editorial
  piece.
  
  "We tested people (via a questionnaire) in 4 areas,
  namely :
  Analytical, Methodical, Connected (feel for people,
  team player) and Visionary."
  
  Where is a copy of the original questionnaire and data?
  
  As a scientist, here are some questions I have on this
  "research project":
  
  What were the questions, scenarios and how were they
  worded? 'Garbage in, garbage out'. No amount of
  statistical analysis or far reaching opinion will negate
  the fact that that numerous study findings have been
  debunked due to leading questions, built in bias and
  poor design.
  
  I would also be very interested in the grading criteria
  for each question and the demographic statistics on
  the participants. These factors will also have a huge
  impact on a study and the resulting 'facts'.
  
  I think presenting the the acquisition data along side
  the conclusions would make this article far more and
  the study far credible.
  

•  
  63

  DianaAnderson

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Our owner was 18 when she started her first company and 20 when she started her next. Both companies are extremely successful, and you can credit her continuing vision for their success.
  
  I don't see that many young people of either sex who are this successful!

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  64

  hwtang

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  What a baloney. Look what happy today, businesses collapse around the worlds that are managed by some of those so-called ?VISIONARY? male executives. ?VISION? does not equal ?EGO?. Just because in general female executives are less egoistic, more sensible and flexible, and less arrogant do not mean they are any less visionaries than their male counterparts.
  

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  65

  vroseee

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Without getting into the specifics of what "vision" actually is, I?d like to say that many women want to do their research to make sure that their ideas and proposals are based on facts, rather than a random thought that enters the brain. I?ve worked with many men that do just that and are thought to be ?visionary? but when you start putting their ideas into practice, there are tons of odds and ends that were never thought through and becomes more of a burden and waste of time, especially when you find out half way through that it?s impossible to put into practice. When you take the approach most women would rather take, they are not thought to be as ?visionary? as if they would?ve just thrown this idea out at a meeting because it?s something they?ve been working on in a planned and systematic type of way. And the reason women would rather work it out and then propose their vision, rather than propose and then see if it can work out, is because we have to prove ourselves more than men do because of the stereotypes that are exist even in the most politically correct and professional offices.

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  66

  ablecable

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  To deny that there are no biologically-based behavioral differences between men and women after millions of years of nature's selection for appropriate gender roles is overreactionary political claptrap. Differences do not necessarily imply superiority EXCEPT in very specific areas of measure. We should expect that men and women will excel in purely statistical terms (in other words, there will always be exceptions) in different areas.
  
  I am disgusted that all the folks that expressed so much rancor over this article found no problems with the opening statement: "Studies show that in almost all measures of executive performance women are equal to or outperform men." Hmmm. Who are the true bigots here, I wonder? Where are the objections to this statement?
  
  Try to think without the benefit of a predefined political label and you will find that you are a more effective businessperson AND a better human being.

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  67

  grichter

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  What real research? Sorry, but in my opinion C-Level Execs in today's marketplace can be either men or women. Those with vision (doesn't matter their sex), are those that have come up through the trenches, rolled up their sleeves and dug in. Those companies today that are in real trouble?are those with C-Level Execs who only accomplishment was getting their MBA and being able to smooze a board of directors. Good C-Level execs have their HEART into their company and get great vision from LISTENING to the "work-a-bees" and respected colleagues. This article really is to ridiculous. By the way?are you a Democrat?

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  68

  b.breeland@...

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Female execs do not lack vision. I believe the vision of most female execs is much better than that of thier male couterparts. Most women execs tell is straight and seem to prefer losing to winning with the bulls#@! stories told by male counterparts. I also find the women better managers and mentors. Once you are the CEO of an established company, I am not so sure vision plays a huge role. Having work at a number of software companies, I find those CEOs have forgotten what is means ensure the team develops great software. Instead the focus is on maintaing for as little spending as posbbible - the originial vision (be the best ---- software compamy) seems to lose its relevance.

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  69

  uma gulati

  02/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I donot agree on this statement. their vision is very clear and they donot suffer from myopia. it is sometimes the constraints and limitations which stop them to exercise or implement their strategies.

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  70

  kakra

  02/26/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

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  71

  kakra

  02/26/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Female executives don't like vision at all.It is only a perception. Infact ,there is a saying that the best man to do the job is a woman Women are known to be more visionary than men in all aspects of life. At home, in the family, at church,etc. The problem is that they are not always able to carry out their vision so they remain in the dream stage.

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  72

  marketing@...

  02/26/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I am a woman with very clear and strong vision. I dont claim to be always right and I am aware that it can be too much, but I do have very clear vision and a great sense of possibilties that I believe could have been very valuable to people I have worked for. However I have almost never found this to be regarded as useful by employers. They usually want things to stay as they are, maintain power, or simply lack the imagination to respond to ideas and see the opportunities I spot. This has been frustrating and I think is not particularly useful to me - and it seems, not useful to places I have worked. There are some exceptions but on the whole it has not served me well until I went freelance and now its serving me very well indeed.
  
  I do though refute these generalisations that you can say 'women' lack vision. It is sad because it makes people think you can predict behaviour of individuals based on external factors like their gender, colour etc. Each of us is different. If I am a woman with vision, but there is a perception that women lack vision, then I will be judged wrongly. Even if most women lack vision, we need to look at each person individually and see what happens in their particular case. This kind of labelling, while provocative, is not really helpful to anyone.

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  73

  marketing@...

  02/26/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Some of the comments seem to show that many have preconceived ideas about what a woman (or man ) is, as if we are determined by gender. This is nonsense and in my view, dangerous. Some women are terrible mothers and some men are fantastic fathers and keep a family together on their own. Its nothing to do with whether they are a man or a woman, its just that particular person in that particular combination of personality, history and circumstances.
  
  Every stereotype can be countered with a thousand exceptions. At what point do you realise that stereotypes don't really hold useful information on a practical day to day level in real human relationships?!

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  74

  jsargent

  02/26/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Vision is very subjective and the criteria for judging someone's vision is more than often abused.

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  75

  Janetcarlson

  02/27/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Some execs (men or women) just lack vision - that is a fact. I think that as a business leader you have to have the ability choose the right path at the right time. As one who has run a company for 15 years - having the vision to see the right path and guide the team toward it is mandatory for success.
  
  Not everyone is going to "get" your vision, especially if you are far ahead of the curve (which has happened a lot in my career)- but if you have the right team and the ability to get in front of the right (potential and existing) customers you will find that suddenly you are hailed as a visionary - even though you always were anyway...
  
  Janet Carlson
  Founder & CEO
  One Eleven Interactive
  www.111interactive.com

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  76

  chrismanoharan

  02/28/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Ofcourse, women exec undoubtedly got the power of vision.for many decades women are speechless and in this new era, they are shelled out to prove the world their stored up power of vision.With new ideas even men lack in some of the areas which the women does.

•  
  77

  eydiestumpf

  03/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I think cyberpundit needs to open his eyes... sorry, but women can raise their family AND run there businesses at the same time. We've got more visions, capabilities, skills and talent than any man! Sounds like cyberpundit still belives women should remain "barefoot and pregnant!
  
  Women probably have MORE vision than men... because we CAN see the end of the tunnel and we KNOW where we're going. We can see the WHOLE picture.
  
  Women generally have more than one vision -that's because we can multi-task... which most men are unable to accomplish! That's why a man will typically hire a woman to be their executive admin assistants.
  
  And Trailmaps.. as a woman, I don't play Bunco, but I sure do plenty of men who do and plenty of women who could beat the pants off of any man in poker! Another stero-type!!
  
  It's 2009 people! Wake up and learn to live with the fact that women are a force to be reckoned with! What's that saying, "Behind every great man there is a woman"! And I say behind every great woman there are many other great women supporting her because we KNOW that it 'takes a village'!

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  78

  darkblonde

  03/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Apparently, from many of the responses to this article, what women lack is confidence in who they are ? women. Women have a tremendous amount of intuition. A resource that we refuse to trust because we can?t ?prove? what we know we need to set out to do. That in itself speaks to having a vision but being afraid to go forward with it. What women need to do is trust their intuition, grab their Logo by the horns and focus.

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  79

  JayDeeGee

  03/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  S H A M E O N Y O U

•  
  80

  nanderson1988

  03/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  The "it takes a village" comment belies the entire feminist argument for women with vision. This is an inherently socialist statement. If there is any kind of person that lacks vision it is socialist archetype, one that is anti-dynamic, incapable of the rugged individualism that shaped this great country, and can only see as far into the future as the current 5 year plan allows for. It does not take a village but a motivated mind. None of this means that women cannot be great execs but in general they are not. While Adam was condemned to work by the sweat of his brow, God told Eve, "your desire will be for your husband." Vision can only be birthed by desire, and a woman's truest desires are most often placed outside of the workplace and personal ambition. This is fitting and natural. Furthermore, there's more to people than biology allows for, and more to life than business allows time for. Recognizing this allows people to see beyond the triteness and false dichotomies encouraged by feminism. To know your place as an individual, a man/woman, and as a human being is to be happy.

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  81

  nanderson1988

  03/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  The "it takes a village" comment belies the entire feminist argument for women with vision. This is an inherently socialist statement. If there is any kind of person that lacks vision it is socialist archetype, one that is anti-dynamic, incapable of the rugged individualism that shaped this great country, and can only see as far into the future as the current 5 year plan allows for. It does not take a village but a motivated mind. None of this means that women cannot be great execs but in general they are not. While Adam was condemned to work by the sweat of his brow, God told Eve, "your desire will be for your husband." Vision can only be birthed by desire, and a woman's truest desires are most often placed outside of the workplace and personal ambition. This is fitting and natural. Furthermore, there's more to people than biology allows for, and more to life than business allows time for. Recognizing this allows people to see beyond the triteness and false dichotomies encouraged by feminism. To know your place as an individual, a man/woman, and as a human being is to be happy.

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  82

  sandeepgp

  03/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I totally agree with view point of Amajid.That's the balanced view of the issue.

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  83

  sandeepgp

  03/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I agree with amajid 02/24/09 view. It is the balanced view.

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  84

  sandeepgp

  03/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I agree with amajid 02/24/09 view. It is the balanced view.
  
  
  Sandeep Gupta

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  85

  irene.montiel

  03/05/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I been in a mangement position for a very long time and although I am in the United States Army, management is the same, compatition is the same and the drive to achived is the same . I been trough a lot latelly work wise and I can assure you the one of the reasons why woman are always put to the test is to proof the we can get things done. If we have good memory if we can handle the job if we can acomplish the big picture so is not wonder the after so much pressure to achived we look like suffer from some kind of lack of vision...We as manager and execs we lose this vision after so much compatition and chanllenged between our self..persection is what it kill us too...We get tired of telling people over and over the same thing and getting notwhere so desilution is part of the lack of vision in our work place.

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  86

  adodoabla

  03/06/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I don?t think so .why? This has been an old tag that has been hanging around the neck of women for a long time now, but recent happenings all around the world has proved this wrong. In my view women get things done may be not with the method men would want to use but the most important thing is that at the end of the day it gets done and well appreciated. I believe a lot more women need to be encouraged to have the able to do spirit and we will get here.

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  87

  Rinoralph

  03/08/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Just connect the dots here. Math is about imagination (vision). Females are not as good in math as males are. Men has been able to dominate in the corporate world because they are more visionaries. Men don't ask for directions because they feel confident they can figure it out. Females ask for the directions. Men don't read instructions. They rather use their imagination to figure it out. Females ask for the instruction book. All of those inventions like the table, the chair, the phonograph, the light bulb, the telephone, the airplane and tons and tons of inventions were done by males because their imagination were tickling them. If the females could have spend time playing with their imagination trying to figure out something like those inventions, they would have done a great deal of them. It is boring for them to play with some electrical cables trying to bring something out of nothing. A boy can spend hours throwing a ball against a wall and catching it again and again. What is making a boy do that? Is his imagination. A teenager will take and old car and dismantle it just to find out how it works. Do you think a female will even think about doing such a thing? Men, it is the male imagination working hard on them. Now, many females get offended by the truth as some males also that feel sorry for them like if this is an humilliation. Is not an humilliation because there are things that females can do much better that us males. Females are good at managing what is already there with the instructions at hand. They can multitask. They can remember many details much better than males. By connecting the dots I came to the conclusion that males invent and create and females operate, manage and administer. What a wise God. This is division of labor and we need each other to achieve much more. All we have to do is position ourselves where we are better at. No need to get offended.

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  88

  moon-moni

  03/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  "TO DO THE THINGS RIGHT INSTEAD TO DOING THE RIGHT (AUDACIOUS) THINGS" IS -IN GENERAL- THEIR WAY OF THINKING. WHY?
  
  HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT THE MOST METHODIC STUDENTS ARE THE GIRLS? IT WOULD BE AN UNRITTEN ROLE.
  
  PERSONALLY I HAVE SEEN HOW TOO MANY PROJECTS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED BY EXEC WOMEN BECAUSE THEY FEAR NOT TO DO WORK WELL.
  
  EXCELLENT TOPIC TO DISCUSS

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  89

  pamela.vitale

  03/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  funny I always get flack for taking to many risks and people
  tend to hire me for my long term global overview... Many times I
  don't get hired because I am to much of a creative or marketing
  or Ux risk... This is as usual a over generalization silly I thought
  we got past this surpressive garbage.
  
  Look me up if you risk taking in new biz & creative direction for
  innovative media & content.
  
  Pamela.vitale
  Www. Xyeye.com

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  90

  pchadbourne

  03/13/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Vision is hindered only by one's inability to make their vision a reality. The great visionaries, whether female or male, found a way to change the world by delivering on their vision. Artificial walls, gender biases, capital, or "corporate titles" did not hinder their progress. Perhaps the issue is not about "lack of vision" but the ability to make it a reality.

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  91

  isbetocunha

  03/13/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  This is a very sensitive item in advertising: most of the professionals in our area are women, not only in Brazil but elsewhere. The vision skill, essential to update what we deliver, has being numerically a male field. And perhaps this is a consequence of the a more present risk analysis zoologically related to the male of the species.
  Far from myself to classify the women in our trade as incapable of think about the next- step-never-before-tried by other professionals but I am sure that this jump on the uncertainty ? for the good or the bad (and the bad occurs frequently) ? has being a male task, so far.
  

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  92

  SMAA

  03/18/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Out of so many plus points women have, i think one is this that they are very clear about what they want and where they want to go. Till now in my career, all the women i have worked with had clear cut visions and not only having visions, they were actually working towards them to make them real. So i simply cant say yes, maybe or perhaps to this statement...women do have vision. In a country like Pakistan, its tough to say but i am happy to see visionary female executives successfully working here.

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  93

  kalaimuse

  03/18/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  True. Female executives lack vision and they are not ready to allow other women who show streaks of capability. They are jealous about them and want to suppress them and they do this unnoticed. For the past ten years I had gone through this painful experience and have taken a vow that I will never stand in the path of others who really show potential. Males executives are broad minded and have long time visions than these female executives.

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  94

  farrukhsl@...

  03/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Females do not lack vision, as they are humans as men are. All is dependant upon the conditions.

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  95

  Ian P

  03/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I enjoyed reading the above. Just a pity that the respondees didn't identify their gender. That would have taken the guessing out of my analysis.
  My guess is that in general; the women were defensive "OH YES WE DO HAVE VISION" and the men were dismissive or patronisingly supportive. But I could be wrong.
  IanP (male)

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  96

  c3focus

  04/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  As a senior exec female, I am always amazed at the contradictions. Everyone talks about women NOT performing as team players and being too independent. After 17 years in investment banking and dealing with the egos on Wall Street, I know that my deals required fast decisionmaking. I could not expect complete data before committing. Vision, thinking ahead, fundamental analysis and common sense were necessary tools. I got out in 1994 to the corporate side when common sense no longer prevailed. Unfortunately, the quants with their financial modeling ignore the real world and, consequently, the non-sensical people made these huge investing mistakes which altered our economy so horribly.
  
  As for vision, so many tmes I was ahead of the curve. I was frequently warned that although the bosses liked my results (profits) they did not like the way I did it. Wall Street men wanted women to rely on our bosses (likely a man) to support our decisions. I was often punished for working too independently. I worked well enough with my team, I just don't like the team approach to decisionmaking. I have survived to my current success because I did not bow intimidation. Very valuable insight these days.
  
  I have moved on and adapted to the more innovative style of Silicon Valley, but I was molded by the many years producing P&L. NY businesses still encourages too much competition within their own organization. Very counterproductive. That is their way of dealing with conformity and vision. Women conform or get out. The men intimidate and move ahead. Which sex is more productive or profitable or visionary is lost to this game. Men are team players? BS. Women are not visionaries? More BS.
  
  The perfectionist - male or female- does not make a good visionary exec. Big picture thinking and willingness to accept risk does.

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  97

  eliza,garber

  04/12/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  This headline is certainly attention-grabbing. I don't know whether, as groups, women or men are equally visionary or not. (My suspicion is that we have equal levels of potential) The point is that, for whatever reason, it is more challenging for an individual woman to be perceived as 'visionary' than a man.
  
  I'm a young ambitious female manager for a large telecommunications company. I think I have 'vision.' This article would be much more helpful for me as a reader if it explained how to manage this perception gap.
  
  What is it that men do to cultivate this perception? How can women create and manage their own image as a visionary leader? What can I and other aspiring female leaders do to ensure that we communicate our visions in such a way that we don't fall into the other female stereotypes (the 'b' word comes to mind)?

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  98

  marillian

  05/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Phew - what a lot of responses - great blog. What I notice is a great deal of debate and opinions. What I notice is that there is opinion on the conclusions but not the analysis - so I went to the website as suggested by "deonbasson1" - the author and there is very little of substance in his report - which is surprising given the conclusions he has reached. A few comments on the report as presented :
  1. Graphs with no clear scale or dimensions - so how does one measure what is " a clear distinction" on any dimension ?
  2. The criteria for assessment are very vague and listed in the report. Visionary as " opportunistic, imagines/speculates, takes risks, curious, future/new ideas" - that certainly includes some visionary elements but sounds rather shallow. yes it uses a commonly used image of "the fox" - but that image [ in my understanding] is for illustrative purposes and not analysis purposes. So what was the basis of the analysis ?
  3. If we cannot see the assessment basis - then perhaps we could assume that in addition to being simplistic - the analysis may also biased :
  Biased in terms of the existing western style paradigm of leadership ; what about a cultural bias ? what about gender bias ?
  This is a great topic for a blog - but in giving this report airspace - we also give credibility to the findings - and my view is that the report [ as presented] is simplistic and biased - and has not demonstrated its credibility.
  So the topic of female leadership capabilities is an excellent one - and clearly needs more attention - but this particular report seems to be to be unworthy of this attention.

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  99

  marillian

  05/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Apologies - my commenst above refer specifically to report by 'deonbasson1" - however I have now also read the Insead report from which the blog was initiated.
  I think my comments on the nature of analysis are still relevant.
  1. What do the authors consider as difference worthy of such comment. In this report there is no measyre at all provided - just a "difference" is noted.
  2. The report is dealing with "perceived" differences - and surely conclusions from perceptions should be carefully analysed - and some causes are discussed further
  3. I find the causes presented suggest a comparison to the current paradigm of the male dominated leadership model - so differences to this would surely be valuable - why should women need to change their approach to meet this existing biased model ? Surely one of the considerations should be - what can existing leadership learn from the ways in which women lead ?
  4. It would be interesting to know what dimensions were measured or tested in this survey - while it appears comprehensive - the results will depend on how the reviews were structured - again did the structure assume the current leadership model as being desirable ?
  
  There is a lot more to "visionary" leadership that having a strong vision. Some recommended souorces of more "open and forward" thinking are Peter Drucker - various books - and Pentti Malaska - article on "Visionary Management" in Foresight Journal. Both of these authors are looking to the future - and altho their writing is now a few years old - their ideas are still way ahead of current business school and business thinking - worth a look to open up new ways of seeing the world.
  
  To suggest that women are "lacking" in some way is ridiculous - it's about time that we saw that both male and female have different strengths to offer and we should value both - this should not be a competition for what is "best" - there is no "best" - only what works for a particular time and place and situation and group of people. Can we do better ? - of course there are huge opportunities for improvement and new ways of thinking and doing. But let's work together rather than perpetuate this hierarchical competition.

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  BionicWoman

  05/08/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  To assert that "female execs lack vision" has obvious logical flaws.

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  101

  optifex

  05/18/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  I was completely insulted by trailmaps specious statement that women
  on a whole tend to lack vision. As well as the specious logic involved in
  "women lack vision" because 'women want everything to be fair and
  equal." Is that not a vision? Wake up. Then perhaps you'll see what I'm
  talking about.

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  102

  chiayewheng

  05/31/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Before you think that I am a MCP. I am not. I respect women but with all sincerity and honesty, I just want to share my personal experience here.
  
  I know one women CEO. She 'seems' to have the vision, but when it comes to implementation - this women is just too right brain. I say 'seems' because it had been happening for many years. In the morning, she may think of one thing, then by the afternoon, another. Her constantly changing mind, fickerness end up with simply no follow-up.
  
  Not that vision is lacking, but when one keeps changing it, any wishful vision amounts to nothing. To me vision is to fix a target for a future attainment, and the whole works is directed to it. But if one fix the target today, and before the team is assembled, the target shifts. That is what I term 'Lack Vision'.
  
  For this title, and from my personal experience, I tend to say 'yes' to the question. I read somewhere that women tend to be less objective and more emotional, and perhaps that trait does come through, loud and clear for this particular women (I know I am courting danger here!).
  
  The turnover of her personal assistants is great testimony of poor management, due to her fickermindedness, domineering character which can be traced to an inner sense of self inadequateness. Despite being in a superior position, I find very few people have much respect for her, except for those hoping to use her for a future gain. Working for her is really like working among a nest of poisonous snakes - for want of a better analogy.
  
  But then it could also happen to some men CEOs, I think.
  
  

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  103

  osuzannea@...

  06/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  It is easy to blame the issue on the battle of the sexes, however I've found that women tend to be more agressive and less agreeable with EACH OTHER.
  
  I think because of our natural biology, men (the hunter/gatherer) come off as more believable for both sexes. Women are more likely to follow the lead of a male manager, rather than a female manager. Women will carry a hint of doubt when taking direction from a female leader, but naturally follow suite with a male manager.
  
  The core question here is "why aren't women visionary." The audience that has built this belief is both men and women. I think many women feel aloneor scared to make decisions without men or their approval, and blaming it on men is an easy way out of taking the responsibility for owning a decision or direct result of one's action.

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  104

  BionicWoman

  06/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  Perhaps, we should discuss how each of us defines "visionary" and its application and relation to history and the future. According to the definitions outlined below, I think history has shown a lot of visionary female leaders, especially when considering women's rights. Perhaps women's right and opportunity to be innovative and actually execute on innovation has been oppressed throughout the history of the world and still is to a different degree. Afterall, women in this country, considered and probably is the most democratic country in the world, acquired our right to vote in 1920. Compared to the history of the world, that was yesterday, so to speak. Are historical beliefs such as this something that is historically and continually taught to both women and men, as evidenced by history (women's historical access to education is one example), and thus becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy where we subsconciously or consciously seek to support this viewpoint?
  Some dictionary definitions are:
  1. a person given to fanciful speculations and enthusiasms with little regard for what is actually possible
  2. someone guided more by ideals than by practical considerations
  3. a person with unusual powers of foresight

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  105

  BionicWoman

  06/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Do Female Execs Lack Vision?

  To make clearer what I said earlier in this part of the sentence:
  "Compared to the history of the world, that was yesterday, so to speak. Are historical beliefs such as this something that is historically and continually taught to both women and men, as evidenced by history (women's historical access to education is one example)..."
  Perhaps, women in the past, historically speaking, were not allowed the same level of access to education as today because they were not believed to be "innovative" and actually use the education in a meaningful way to increase societal value in monetary or political gains.