Where are all the women?

 Yesterday, I spent the morning at my local grammar school engaging in mock interviews for the students who will be heading off to university next year.  

The school organises interviews to help support students’ applications and to offer them valuable practice interview experiences.

They ask people in the local community for help and then match students with a panel of appropriate interviewers.  I was rather surprised that when I got there that I was the only woman from a panel of 4.                Maybe it is because of my field of work that such gender issues seem more evident to me.

 So where are the women?

• Are they in jobs that will not allow them out to serve the community for 3 hours or more?  Have they assumed this?  (my earlier post discusses this)
• Are they not interested in helping the next generation?
• Do they not have the skills and knowledge?

I don’t believe that all of the above are true. Whether you are employed or self-employed, work for a corporate or a micro business, I would urge women out there to step up and be visible. Recognise your accomplishments, share your stories and insights and have the belief and confidence that you are a worthy role model.  

Young people need to have access to role models who are real and within their grasp and not airbrushed celebrities who are so distant from their lives.

Children and young people learn from the actions and behaviours of those around them – be it at home, at school, at clubs or within our communities. If we all became effective role models how different will our world be?

So much more is required of students who are applying to study at university and those applying for jobs. Whatever help, support, advice, feedback… that you can give to young people, it will help them to leverage their position and employability.

So women out there, have the courage to be seen, to be heard, to share your expertise and to make a difference to a young person’s life. It may be a small act, but often these are the ones that make the greatest difference.  

What more can you do to help the next generation?

What are you doing now that is making a difference?

Read my posts on Leadership and the young

Should the young be taught leadership?

What stories are you telling to our future leaders?

What foundations are you laying for the future?

Everyday leadership. What does it mean to you?

This blog is part of the NaBloPoMo challenge of writing a blog everyday in November

Photo courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 I’m a professional coach (MA in Coaching & Mentoring) working with women and aspiring leaders to build their confidence and know how to progress, make successful changes, leverage their influence, impact, presence and communication. I am a part-time lecturer in leadership and work within organisations to develop high performing teams, mentoring schemes and facilitate skills training in leadership and management development.

Join the Aspiring Women’s Network 3 month challenge on the 4 or 7 Dec in Ilkley.                                                    An opportunity to stop procrastinating, to let go of fear and what’s holding you back, to do something that you have always wanted to do but didn’t have the courage, know how, support…