After decades of analysis of the value proposition for men versus women in the financial industry, especially at the executive levels, it may be time now to look at things through a different set of eyes.   In order to evoke more positive and inclusive change, is it possible that our enquiry should be geared toward making a different distinction:

What is the value proposition for the masculine versus the feminine in the financial industry?  … In any industry?

Both men and women exit organisations when they are no longer able to make the inspired or creative contributions they wish to make in order to feel fulfilled and motivated to remain.

For many, to achieve is not necessarily to be fulfilled, but to be fulfilled is certainly an achievement.

Fulfillment requires an alignment of both personal contribution and the organisation’s value proposition for that contribution.  At the moment, the reward and promotion structures in the corporate world are defined by the market and predominantly associated with the ‘left brain’ or the ‘masculine’ qualities of logic, sequence, analysis, rationale, intellect, power, and delivery.  The qualities of the ‘right brain’ or the ‘feminine’ include intuition, creativity, emotional intelligence, communication, perception, vision and strategy.  Though organisations incorporate the qualities of the ‘feminine’, in measuring performance, the masculine qualities are more often nurtured and rewarded, especially at the top as the corporation meets the market.

In today’s market, the logical wins out over the intuitive, and the rational wins out over the inspired.

The masculine qualities are valued over the feminine at the levels that matter most to the shareholder … so we think, but is this really true?  Is it not possible that the current model stifles its own potential as well as the interests of the shareholder and therefore, the market?

The change that needs to take place must start from the inside out.

To create change in the world around us, we must first create the change within us and then lead as an example of our own teaching. To create an environment that values, nurtures and promotes both masculine and feminine qualities requires the personal integration and embodiment of these qualities in one’s self.  For women with years of experience in mastering the masculine in order to succeed in today’s market, the integration of the feminine can produce as much of an identity crisis as it can in some men.  That said, to embrace both the feminine and the masculine qualities in all of us provides a sense of value for the whole.  This creates a wonderful opportunity to balance gender and culture representation in organizations today by broadening the qualities valued in everyone.  For women in the city, we are asked to begin by reconnecting with the power of the feminine in ourselves.

The inspirational leader trusts that the illogical, intuitive and inspired can produce astounding measurable results.

This is in the heart and soul of the individual who decides they are going to arrive in their greatness, dance in their nakedness, and ‘for you, for me, I need to be seen.  And if I fall, in front of you all, well maybe somebody was served by that too.’

Dream 11/08

I see life like a puzzle and each of us a colourful piece that is uniquely ours to contribute to every place we arrive.  It is our contribution and it is inspired.  Its colours and context are fully revealed when we are being authentically who we are, sharing honestly what is within us, in order that those with whom we engage can connect and collaborate with us.  Through our courage to contribute what is true inside of us,  we can make accurate connections, bring things into their proper alignment, and paint the full picture.

Wouldn’t that be good for business?  Wouldn’t that be good for everything?

We can’t complete the puzzle by being the same piece, and we certainly can’t get the whole picture unless we are all willing to show up in our full size, shape and colour.  Authenticity is imperative in this game.

We just need to remember that we are not individually the puzzle, but we are certainly valued pieces. Doesn’t that take the pressure off having to be the whole answer anyway? If we all promised to be our piece, then wouldn’t we build an amazing vision together?

Inspired contribution is collaborative.  It is like opening a door so that others can show you why it was so important for you to open the door.

It isn’t about imposing our intuitive visions and inspired ideas in order to create a world of followers hanging on our every insight.  Rather, it is about the courage to contribute our insights without attachment knowing there is more to the need to do so than meets our own eyes – humbled to our own lack of understanding, yet blessed by the miracles that grow out of the courage to have done so.

In business today, before we ever offer the authentic insights we are carrying, we assess the freedom to do so.  We take into account who we are speaking to and what we have to lose.  We make our calculations, evaluate the repercussions and then decide … best not.

Why be a stack of puzzle pieces when you can admire the whole picture? If we spend too much time trying to fit to the mold that’s before us, and too little time being what is within us, then we risk mastering an identity that is provided for us rather than that which authentically ‘is’ us.

Inspired contribution is the ability to be the fullness of the puzzle piece you are in order to complete the picture that is intended for your life.