Economists on what is basically a diversity and equality issue--Gender growth

From the World Economic Forum, 2014
http://webcasts.weforum.org/widget/1/davos2014?p=1&pi=1&a=53309

This is something to behold...so thanks to the BBC.  Much of it resonates with me, and almost as much of it bugs me.  Women as, almost definitionally, peacemakers would be something that bugs me. Not that women aren't, but there's more to women than warm hugs, and I think too often the discussion stalls on the special softness that women bring to business--a disservice in my books.  They get past it...brilliantly in many cases.

Moving away from the stereotypes of women; and onto the facts that there's half the population that simply shows up less frequently in the workforce, especially in leadership is important to me.  They cover the gamut and I was riveted by every question and each response.

• Sheryl Sandburg is the COO of Facebook, 
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Executive Director of UN Women, 
• Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund
• Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Nissan and Renault

These are heavy lifters I've been reading about in the last two years of looking at business practices-

Please comment if you feel likewise, or differently- I like hearing different viewpoints on the matters these five have discussed (I'm including the reporter)

I liked Christine Lagarde's challenge to not call men and women members of the opposite sex...and then her deferent beginning, "If you'll allow me...".  She says it's a battle that we all need to fight, and win, in the world's best interest; but then proceeded to set women and men in opposition with "as good/ better at" etc...kind of language-- which is when I get ruffled.  What would happen to our discussion if we simply said "women make excellent managers" etc... A push for excellence, regardless of gender, seems like a more appealing argument to me.  And they get there--

I really liked Ghosn's point on education, coaching, mentoring, of girls and women--along with the agreements from the rest of the panel.  Measurement, and accountability come up too, which is always something I cheer over. At 30 mins in, or so, he brings it back around to diversity--more diverse=stronger companies and stronger countries.

Cheers...

The "non-example" of a great person to work with...on the playground it's a "see ya, wouldn't wanna be ya!"

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140410232741-1124086-10-rules-of-an-incompetent-professional?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

He begins, and is really quite specific...

I’m positive you’ll recognize someone close to you who appears to be a true professional but who, in reality, isn’t anything more than an unqualified beginner. These are, in my opinion the most important rules:

1. “Blame others”: whatever happens, there will always be someone who can be blamed for things that go wrong, however much responsibility, or lack of, they have. In the slang of useless people, this rule is called “passing the buck” or saying “the dog ate my work“.

2. “Steal and use the achievements of others”: which is essential for getting to the top, whilst those at the bottom never stop complaining about our incompetence. In the slang of the useless, this is called “taking all the credit“.

3. “Deny having done anything”: even though you’ve been caught on film committing the worst possible crime, deny it all. It could always be thought that it’s a complex plot created by your worst enemy to question your honesty.

4. “Don’t face up to things and avoid making statements”: never try to defend yourself if you’ve done something bad. You will be accused of things that you hadn’t even thought of. It’s better to avoid making statements and mention a brief: “I haven’t done anything, this is a plot against my honesty and good name”.

5. “Look for false witnesses to back up the lie”: there is always an absent-minded friend, one of those who’s dying to be at your side, who will be willing to state anything, and back up our tale. It’s important to have some to hand.

6. “Get others to make statements for you”: if there is no other alternative, and rule 4 can’t be applied, it’s much better to get others to do it for you. In addition to the witnesses from the previous rule, try to get people who are fairly simple to make statements for you; they’ll end up boring everyone to death.

7. “Get a lawyer to make statements for you”: once the previous point has been exhausted, it’s best to get a lawyer to respond with excuses and contradictions.

8. “Invent a Saintly role”: if ultimately we have to say something, it’s important to have created a story that elevates us to the level of Holy Spirit and makes everyone believe that under no circumstances would we be capable of such acts.

9. “Throw stones at the enemy”: someone wants to back us into a corner? However saintly they are, they will always have a dark side. Look for it and hit them hard until no doubt remains that the person is worse than the devil.

10. “Invent a conspiracy”: if someone has backed us into a corner, and we haven’t been able to take them down, there is no other alternative than to plot a conspiracy, using a smoke screen. The most common stories are those that involve the abuse or harassment of women, because they always manage to attract nonsensical parrots.

I enjoy talking about positive things, but sometimes it’s important to mention bad practices, because whether we like it or not, they are the first thing we have to avoid. None of these rules have come from the Internet or a book. I have experienced them all first hand, in trials and attacks, and they have helped me to detect what I call human cockroaches. I always recommend the fantastic book by Fernando Trías de Bes, “El libro negro del emprendedor”-The entrepreneur’s black book-, which talks of the huge mistakes that many entrepreneurs make, and believe me, you learn more from mistakes than from success. Following Fernando’s lead, shortly I’ll be able to publish “El libro negro del coach” -The coach’s black book- (or that of the politician, banker, whichever profession you prefer), because there is no lack of examples of incompetent people.

Be careful because lately ignorant people appear to be having great success.