21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot

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Then too late, they realized that all the great talent was going elsewhere.

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Their results show what can happen when we take ourselves too seriously. In today's economy and in a worldwide marketplace, coolness is pretty fleeting, and the job opportunities for the best employees have become especially broad.

Not having a sound maternity, paternity, or day care policy affects an organization's long-term success. Today's workforce wants to work with companies that respect their desires for family; they will leave to find it. As more countries find that they may soon be unable to provide citizens with healthcare and pensions, this is a bigger deal than ever. Most young women work, and more young men have been raised by women who instilled in them the importance of family. Companies like SAS provide a great example to others who want to attract and retain the best talent in the market.

Prepare the Insulin and Syringe

And this doesn't reduce the company's profits or ROI. WPP, the world's largest ad agency, fired its company head for this philosophy just two years ago, so don't think it doesn't still exist. And if you don't know it yet, I'm happy to tell you: Women are tired of this attitude.

It's part of the reason that most business startups are being led by women in North America. Having a management team or a boardroom full of men who all look the same might make all of them feel smart and comfortable, but it reduces new idea flow for better decisions.

Research on this is clear: Companies with better diversity plans have better shareholder ROI and profit margins than their counterparts. And by the way, it's more human to treat all of us equally.

Bias plays a role in holding down salaries, but so do poor negotiating skills

Presuming that someone who is good in one role will be just as good in a broader role can be the kiss of death for the employee and the organization. This can take the form of promoting people beyond their level of competency or broadening scope beyond their capacity. For example, just because someone is a great engineer doesn't mean he or she has the right skills to manage a department of engineers. Likewise, just because someone was tough enough to win business from a competitor doesn't mean he or she has what it takes to manage a group or team.

These are different skillsets. Actually, it's usually better never than late.

Giving Yourself an Insulin Shot for Diabetes

The decline of Ford has showed that reacting to market shifts and changes too late makes it next to impossible to regain lost ground. Caught in a difficult economy, with smart competitors, Ford tried to "save its way to success" by cutting expenses and reducing the volume sales of less profitable cars and sales outlets.

Then, it chased high-end customers with lackluster premium brands, like Lincoln and Jaguar, while neglecting for too long its core customers' attraction to smart and good-looking cars, like the Camry and Civic. As a result, it will never again be America's 2 car company, and it's likely that it may simply become an interesting niche player in the global economy.

His Web site, BusinessSuccessCoach. One of the founding senior executives of DIRECTV, his hands-on experience includes leading billion dollar organizations and launching start-ups in both the U. The author of two published books, he is frequently seen providing advice on TV, in magazines, and newspapers. Can Russian hackers be stopped? Here's why it might take 20 years.

How driverless cars, hyperloop, and drones will change our travel plans. Whether we like it or not, many employers and society at large still see men as the main breadwinners in the family, says Linda Babcock, an economist at Carnegie Mellon University. Everyone wants advancement and more money, but some women are not well-versed in the art of negotiations and shy away from the dreaded process with their bosses.

We share the most personal details about our spouses or children, but when it comes to money we just shut up. Perhaps that is why the majority of people living in poverty in this country are women and children. One of the key principles of negotiation is being able to promote one's self, and here women often fall down on the job.

But acceptance ends up hitting women right in their pocketbooks. Gender and the Negotiation Divide. We teach boys to go out there and be aggressive, to go after what they want.

Morgan Steiner says she has done her part to help girls get some negotiating teeth by insisting that they come up with a price and coaching them on what to say to other parents. Girls need training right out of the gate. One reason for pay gap: Women don't speak up Bias plays a role in holding down salaries, but so do poor negotiating skills Below: Part one of a two-part series on women and the art of negotiation.

One reason for pay gap: Women don't speak up

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