Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
up for yourself means addressing situations, individuals, or rules that limit your
movement and the advancement of your cause. It may also mean competing to
make sure your cause or issue is seen as a priority in the organization.
Charles A. O'Reilly III, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford
Graduate School of Business, has been especially interested in women's career
attainment and the problem of why, despite definite gains in recent years in the
areas of education and experience, women are still so largely underrepresented
in the highest ranks of American corporations. In 1986, he initiated a study
where he followed a group of MBA graduates from the University of California,
Berkeley, to see if he could isolate those qualities that led to senior level corpo-
rate positions. His conclusion was surprisingly simple: success in a corporation
is less a function of gender discrimination than of how hard a person chooses to
compete. The issue is not hard work but rather competitiveness and demonstrat-
ing a willingness to do more than your counterparts to demonstrate commit-
ment. And the folks that tend to compete most aggressively are the stereotypical
“manly men.” 1
A sports analogy is offered by O'Reilly to explain this difference and suggests
that we consider careers as a sort of competitive tournament. In the final rounds,
you have the best athletes and thus players are usually matched pretty equally for
ability. At that point, what differentiates winners from losers is effort - how many
backhands a tennis player hits in practice, how many tackles a football player
makes, or how many calls a sales representative is willing to make. “From an
organization's perspective,” he says, “those most likely to be promoted are those
who both have the skills and are willing to put in the effort. Individuals who are
more loyal, work longer hours, and are willing to sacrifice (including in personal
and family lives) for the organization are the ones who will be rewarded.” 2
While we may not fully agree with all that is espoused in this study, it is
important to realize the value of standing up for ourselves, as our health and
well-being directly impacts the health of the vision. This includes being willing
to engage in vigorous competitions to see our vision realized, and having the
tenacity to see the issue through to the end.
Ability to Make Tough Decisions
We all make hundreds of decisions in a day, and as a leader the results of your
decisions can impact one to thousands. Many of our decisions may have unin-
tended negative consequences for some, but in pursuit of the vision these deci-
sions may be necessary. For example, if you realize that the direction a technical
aspect of the project is taking will not accomplish the goals, you may have to
1 Where are the Women? Article posted February 5, 2004. Isegoria website www.isegoria.
net/2004/02/fast-company-where-are-women.html (accessed July 6, 2012).
2 Where are the Women? Article posted February 5, 2004. Isegoria website www.isegoria.
net/2004/02/fast-company-where-are-women.html (accessed July 6, 2012).
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