International Women’s Day was on Monday March 8th, and this Month is Women’s History Month.

Not long ago, I was asked to discuss a man’s perspective of women in leadership.

The first thing that came to mind?

There are far too few women being represented. We know that sales is a male dominated field. We can also feel that changing. Let’s keep the momentum building. Let’s empower a foundation of female sales professionals who will crash over the status quo, cleaning it of long held beliefs, and all of us will be elevated on the rising tide of change.

Why are there so few women being represented? Because men are scared. Scared of diversity and scared to lose their grip on power. It’s so interwoven in our culture, it just goes unnoticed or is accepted without question. We are used to subconsciously thinking that a CEO is a man. Our society has helped us assume that positions of power must be a man and we are still surprised when it turns out the CEO/CFO/C- you name it is a woman. Challenge yourself to stop being scared of the unknown. That’s what it is. You’re not scared of female leadership you’re scared of what you don’t know.

Get over it.

Diversity of thought comes from diversity of lived experiences. It should be a red flag if everyone on the leadership team is similar. Their similarity means whole swaths of ideas, thought patterns, and experiences are non-existent in the future of your company. A company is only as strong as its diversity. Challenge yourself to read books that were authored by someone different than you. Follow thought leaders who don’t look or think like you. Expand who you gain information from on a daily basis and do the work to expand your diversity of thought.

The history of this country shows that diversity doesn’t organically happen. It must be sought after and respected. Do your part to cultivate an organization that leans into many different lived experiences and human stories to lead it, opens doors for others to follow behind, and who is at the head of the line for this change. We have to do the WORK to push the voices who have historically been oppressed to the front of the line, where they have always belonged.

So that means men need to do more to help women get leadership opportunities and SUCCEED at them once they do. It means that men need to be open to being uncomfortable when a woman corrects their behavior, not defensive. We must also allow women to make mistakes and grow into their role as a leader the same way we allow men to. It means the next person you take under your wing to help them soar, needs to be someone who is extraordinarily different than you. Imagine what you’ll learn from them, and what new opportunities you’ll have to teach.

Start by actively hiring women. Mentor them and advocate for them in their career with leadership roles in mind. I’ll say this again, advocate for them. You’ve already done this with tons of men in your life. Show up for women in their careers the same way. Hire them, advocate for them, stand-up for them. Be a partner. Help them be ready to take on the role when it arrives – even if it’s outside of your company. We must create space for female leaders with intentionality. The only way this happens is by you taking action.

It should be noted that nowhere here do I suggest women do anything differently. They are already powerful, smart, capable and enthusiastic about leadership. We as men not only have to stop being part of the problem, but actively become a participant in the solution.

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My appearance on The Mastermind Effect podcast w/ Brandon Straza

The Surf & Sales Summit is back, this November 2021!

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