It’s a man thing!
“Leadership is about finding ways to unite people to help us achieve our goals”
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It's a man thing
I was thinking today about the difference between men and women, and wondering whether my weekly greetings could be seen as ‘chick-flick’ content, causing men to roll their eyes and disconnect. I remembered a great book I read this month by Brené Brown called Daring Greatly in which she explores how the fear of vulnerability and feelings of shame hold us back from taking bold steps in our lives.
In the book (which I recommend for insight into yourself and to understand those around you) she recalled a man approaching her after a workshop saying: Why do you only talk about how women struggle with vulnerability? Men struggle too. Women say they want us men to be in touch with our feelings and vulnerable, but really they want us to be strong and to never falter. They want us to die sitting on our white horse, rather than admit we are fearful, hurt or feeling shame.
From that point onwards Brené realised that men’s stories of struggle were just as powerful as women’s – and that men and women are the same at their core. Fear has no gender barrier.
We have all grown up with beliefs about the right way to behave. Traditional cultural beliefs can be especially strong – and here in South Africa we often observe (and live) a clash between the expectations of city dwellers and those in the rural areas. This can be challenging for successful self-empowered city women, but, I am sure, for men too.
So, the thought I wanted to share with you is that as business owners there is no gender agenda. We are all one, tasked with the responsibility of understanding and inspiring the men and women in our team, working with the men and women in our client base and in our families.
Leadership is about finding ways to unite people to help us achieve our goals. That starts with understanding the differences and similarities that men and women have. What do you think?
