Could this be why more women aren't "heard" at work?
It happened again. What's that you ask? More men spoke up than women at an event where I was presenting.
Here's what happened. I was facilitating a workshop with almost 170 people. I had the participants do a table exercise. I asked each table to identify a spokesperson. After completing the exercise, I asked for several volunteers to share their results with the larger group. I only had time to have a few of the tables share results.
Of the four tables that volunteered to share information, I realized (too late), that all of the spokespersons were men. I didn't realize this until after I had asked for my final volunteer and of course, a man raised his hand. Had I realized this sooner, I would have made an attempt to get one of the women to share some comments.
Is this an anomaly? I don't think so.
I wrote earlier this year about attending a large event hosted by Financial Executives International. There were several hundred people in the audience, but only a handful of women including me. When they opened up the floor to questions, I realized that none of the women were raising their hands and asking questions. I raised my hand but again, it was too late. They took their final question (from a man) and then wrapped up the event.
Here's the bottom line. You have to speak up if you want to be heard at work. That means you need to offer your input during meetings, raise your hands and ask questions during presentations, and yes, volunteer to be the spokesperson during training. It's really that simple.
In this situation we have no one to blame but ourselves. Are you being heard at work? Share your comments here.
Here's what happened. I was facilitating a workshop with almost 170 people. I had the participants do a table exercise. I asked each table to identify a spokesperson. After completing the exercise, I asked for several volunteers to share their results with the larger group. I only had time to have a few of the tables share results.
Of the four tables that volunteered to share information, I realized (too late), that all of the spokespersons were men. I didn't realize this until after I had asked for my final volunteer and of course, a man raised his hand. Had I realized this sooner, I would have made an attempt to get one of the women to share some comments.
Is this an anomaly? I don't think so.
I wrote earlier this year about attending a large event hosted by Financial Executives International. There were several hundred people in the audience, but only a handful of women including me. When they opened up the floor to questions, I realized that none of the women were raising their hands and asking questions. I raised my hand but again, it was too late. They took their final question (from a man) and then wrapped up the event.
Here's the bottom line. You have to speak up if you want to be heard at work. That means you need to offer your input during meetings, raise your hands and ask questions during presentations, and yes, volunteer to be the spokesperson during training. It's really that simple.
In this situation we have no one to blame but ourselves. Are you being heard at work? Share your comments here.
Posted by Regina Barr at 10/13/2011 5:32 PM 
Categories: Career Development, Communication
Tags: aspiring women leaders women at the top leadership success
Categories: Career Development, Communication
Tags: aspiring women leaders women at the top leadership success
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