Wanting Equal Rights Means Showing You Are Equal

Along the blogosphere are some great contents. One wonderful read I recently come across was

about a story written by Dr. Anne Perschel, organizational psychologist and president of Germane Consulting . Germaine is a business coaching firm that focuses on organizational development and leadership coaching for business executives, high potential up and comers, and leadership teams.

Here is an excerpt of a story she wrote, surely you will find this educatational as inspiring.

“Seven boys, ages five to eight, are engineering an intricate series of dams and rivers by the water’s edge. They even build a small hot tub and are enjoying their time in this mini spa when along come the girls — first one, then two. As the third attempts to find a seat in the tub, two boys protest. “No girls allowed.”

The girls argue but eventually move along. Minutes later the mothers arrive and demand equal rights for the girls. The boys protest, but the mothers stand guard as the girls are begrudgingly allowed in the tub.

Clearly everyone is having less fun. As soon as the guards leave, the chanting begins anew, “No girls allowed.”

The scene repeats several times. Eventually, the mothers become distracted and the girls grow tired of trying.

Then one lone girl starts to dig a short distance from the boys. She is far enough to maintain respect for the rule of separation but close enough for the engineers and construction workers to see her. Other girls join in. They build elaborate scenes creatively using beach flora, fauna and debris to make bridges, houses, trees and people.

A curious boy inches his digging project closer to girls’ scene. Within minutes he connects his trench to their landscape. Other boys take note and edge closer. They build connecting roads as well. Soon the groups’ combined engineering and creative talents result in a complex and ingenious landscape filled with people, cars, pets, trenches, dams and a bigger coed hot tub.

Now please suit up for a visit to my client with whom I share this story. Ms. Julie, the most senior woman in the organization, has been complaining, whining even, that she does not get invited to important all-male networking events. She is a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. I share the beach story with her then ask if she is going to wait for some adult to demand an invitation on Ms. Julie’s behalf. Or like the girls on the beach, could she construct her own solution?

Ms Julie throws her own tailgating party. She invites the men and the women. The food is imaginative and delicious but she is sure to include the more traditional grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and sweet smelling sausages. Company parties are different now. The rule of “No girls allowed” has been rescinded.”

Surely every women professional has come across the same feeling. Suggestions fall on deaf ears, the feeling of isolation, the feeling of neglect and preference to other- at times, male co workers. That may not be the case in today’s time any more. The modern woman professional gathers her strenghts and assets and make things happen for her, rather than wait on others to make the change.

It is no wonder that women owned business account to a large portion of market, and the numbers are growing. This only goes to show how women professionals are not only demanding equal rights with everyone else, but showing the world why they deserve to be equal with men, and in other cases other women.

Like the children’s illustration, if we all take our skills and talents, break down old ways of thinking, and join in collaborative energy, the result will be a great new team, filled with harmony and equality.