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Research
The Leader's Edge Research has been conducting major projects
to study the depth of women business executives since its inception. The
most recent project is the “Making Connections, Working Together” study. This
study examines the key issues facing women of African Descent and Caucasian
women in the workplace. After examining these key issues, the study
offers solutions for bridging the gap in corporation as well as in life. In
addition, the study includes insights on the different ways education, mentoring,
accountability, trust, and awareness play a role in bridging the gap.
Highlights from the current study include:
- There is a lack of understanding by each group about the issues of
the other.
- Black women encounter many of the same issues with white women as
white women do with white men, giving them two levels of hurdles to
overcome.
- Women of African Descent believe they are held to a different standard
in the workplace than white women, who they see has having advantages
and opportunities not available to them.
Additional studies that have been conducted by The Leader's Edge
Research have found the following key points:
- Companies commended for their “best practices” programs
distinguish themselves from other firms by the depth and breadth of
their programs which include coaching, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Their diversity activities for women are incorporated into the overall
vision, fabric and culture of the company.
- Female executives are leaving organizations at a significantly higher
rate than their male counterparts. In fact, Fortune 500 companies are
experiencing departures of their female executives at a rate twice
that of males.
- In a survey consisting of over one hundred high ranking executive
women who had recently left their companies voluntarily, 39% of the
women ranked corporate culture as the number one reason why they left
their most recent position. Specifically, respondents expressed disappointment
in closed management styles that, micromanaged and denigrated their
work.
- Research indicates that senior executive women do not make effective
use of networking to advance their careers. While networking skills
increase in importance for males, they decrease for women as they move
up the ladder.
- While women at all levels have a less aggressive communication style
in meetings than men, women are dramatically less confrontational at
the highest levels.
- Women indicate a corporate culture that supports men more than women
as the most significant barrier to women achieving top executive positions.
- Women in the workplace tend to have less confidence than their male
counterparts.
Please review the most recent study:
2005 – Making
Connections, Working Together
Please view the archives for information on prior studies.
2004 – Corporate Best
Practices for Women
2002 – Why Women
Are Leaving Corporate Positions and What Companies Can Do To Retain
Them
2001 – Career Styles and Strategies of Successful Women
2000 – Attitudes and Issues Affecting Executive Women
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