Women leaders truly connect
The 21st centur y workplace has
become a place like no other. In a
world where the workplace is
described as ‘VUCA’ (volatile, uncertain,
complex and ambiguous), the
demands on both employees and
employers has never been harder.
Let alone that of today ’s female
leader.
In the latest ‘Deloitte 2015 Human
Capital Trends Report’, Culture and
Engagement were listed as the
number one priorities both from
a global and South African perspective.
Leadership remains a perennial
issue, rating second in this year’s
report, followed by Learning and
Development.
These trends indicate a need for
changes and reworking of
practices in our business
environments.
Employees are becoming
overwhelmed as the barriers between
work and life have been eliminated.
Employers are challenged to simplify
the workplace and narrow the focus
to achieve more efficiency, depth and
quality in the output of work.
Employees are effectively connected
24 hours a day, every day of the year.
As a result, people are burning out
and their ability to be creative and
agile in their thinking is suffering. The
report also highlighted that ‘purposeful
or meaningful work’ was a significant
and major contributor to employee
engagement and satisfaction.
So what does this mean for the female
leader? Perhaps this is the time, more
than ever, that the feminine characteristics
of leaders are in need.
With an ability to empathise, truly connect
with people in a different way and care for
staff meaningfully, could this be the
employee engagement energiser that is
s o n e e d e d i n o u r b u s i n e s s e s to d ay,
irrespective of size?
Be warned however that a major
consideration in our female plight to
construct business environments in a ‘VUCA’
world, is that we must not lose sight of the
fact that we can quick ly become the
‘overwhelmed leader’. Let’s ensure that as
overwhelmed females, we check up on each
other, support each other and create more
telling networks and ecosystems of truly
connected female leaders in the workplace.
Can you imagine a bottom line of profit,
care and a meaningful contribution to society?
Perhaps the female leader is more of a
necessity than one ever thought.
Written by Ursula Fear
Director of Human Capital, Deloitte
Business woman’s breakfast with panel discussion
ion
When: Wednesday 19th August 2015
A DIVISION OF ORT SA
Facilitating business growth and
financial sustainability
08:00 - 10:00
Registration at 07:30
Space is limited email [email protected] to book