Seven Sharp's piece on women in the top tiers of power

**PrincessBandit** · 19th February 2013, 18:23

I loved listening to Bob Jones talk about the fact that people should be in positions in the upper hierachy based on merit rather than token diversity. I agree with him. He also commented though that women don't rise higher in the ranks because they're not prepared to stay behind for socialising/bonding over booze (golf, insert-option-of-choice) after hours - "their commitment stops at 5pm" i think he said.

That got me thinking. How many women (and men, for that matter) are penalised because they won't sell their soul to the company. My sister left a prestigious position in a bank due to the heavy expectations on her to give her life basically to them. She knew there were any number of younger men who were waiting in the wings for her departure, ready to give that "over and above the call of duty" to the business.

I also wondered how many men are caught in the rat wheel with the same predicament - they don't want to do what many women do (according to Bob Jones, sabotage their opportunities through having a life outside of work) as there would also be many other men prepared to make the sacrifices of hours with family, hobbies etc. in order to move up the ranks.

Your thoughts?

**merv** · 19th February 2013, 18:33

Come Friday each week and I'm outta there, probably why my career peaked 15 years ago. I always saw it as kissing arse and just couldn't be bothered with it when I had a family to go home to. The way the corporate world is dog eat dog I always figured it was better to kiss no arse than follow an arse that later became last year's executive. I kept my conscience clear if not gaining the lucrative pay rate that the arse kissers might have.

**Akzle** · 19th February 2013, 18:34

what the fuck are you on about. you watch TV and think you have an opinion of your own?

prime example of why women shouldn't be allowed to vote.

((no seriously, NZ has been all fucking downhill since we "progressively" allowed women to decide shit. it's a fucking dumb idea. politics wasn't designed for your benefit it was made by men, for men, GTFO of it. bleeding out the crotch is not a valid excuse for your tomfuckery. which fucking bitch decided 15. yes, say it. FIFTEEN was a good age for CONSENSUAL SEX. tell you fucken whut, i'll be putting foot up 15 year old a55 if they think they're gonna carry on with that crap.))

**Edbear** · 19th February 2013, 18:36

Unfortunately he is correct. It shouldn't be that way but the reality is that much of the time progress within a company is based on personal relationships over qualifications and experience.

I have always put "life" ahead of work and family ahead of everything else. I believe the cost of getting ahead is far greater than the rewards as all you have left in the end is salary and position in a company but no-one to share your "success" with at home. It really can be, lonely at the top. You sacrifice your real life for an illusion.

Some may recall the song, " I'm Going to be like you, Dad!" ?

**pete376403** · 19th February 2013, 19:07

Originally Posted by Edbear

Unfortunately he is correct. It shouldn't be that way but the reality is that much of the time progress within a company is based on personal relationships over qualifications and experience.

I have always put "life" ahead of work and family ahead of everything else. I believe the cost of getting ahead is far greater than the rewards as all you have left in the end is salary and position in a company but no-one to share your "success" with at home. It really can be, lonely at the top. You sacrifice your real life for an illusion.

Some may recall the song, " I'm Going to be like you, Dad!" ?

"Cats in the Cradle" Harry Chapin

**PrincessBandit** · 19th February 2013, 19:13

Originally Posted by Akzle

[COLOR="#139922"]what the fuck are you on about. you watch TV and think you have an opinion of your own?

prime example of why women shouldn't be allowed to vote.

( bleeding out the crotch is what I'm doing right now which is why I'm being such a bitch

10char

**mashman** · 19th February 2013, 19:18

Hey, it's all about teamwork... and if you're not part of the team after work, then how can you be a part of the team during work.

I never saw the programme (Boyd's a dick of epic proportions, really really can't stand the ignorant fucker (he's Campbell but with even less credibility), the unknown guy would make more of an impression is he was being dragged around the studio by midgets dressed up as unicorns, and Mau is stuck in the middle (jury's out)) and to be honest I won't go looking for it as I've lived it for more years than I care to count... However every now and then you meet people who don't see it as a prerequisite, but that seems to be becoming the exception instead of the rule these days.

**Swoop** · 19th February 2013, 20:03

People still watch that crap on tv1?

Seriously?

**Number One** · 19th February 2013, 21:00

Originally Posted by Akzle

what the fuck are you on about. you watch TV and think you have an opinion of your own?

prime example of why women shouldn't be allowed to vote.

((no seriously, NZ has been all fucking downhill since we "progressively" allowed women to decide shit. it's a fucking dumb idea. politics wasn't designed for your benefit it was made by men, for men, GTFO of it. bleeding out the crotch is not a valid excuse for your tomfuckery.

hahahahaha omg... gasps... what a catch you are.

**Madness** · 19th February 2013, 21:02

It's been a long time since I had a woman on top.

**Dean** · 19th February 2013, 21:05

Originally Posted by Akzle

what the fuck are you on about. you watch TV and think you have an opinion of your own?

prime example of why women shouldn't be allowed to vote.

((no seriously, NZ has been all fucking downhill since we "progressively" allowed women to decide shit. it's a fucking dumb idea. politics wasn't designed for your benefit it was made by men, for men, GTFO of it. bleeding out the crotch is not a valid excuse for your tomfuckery. which fucking bitch decided 15. yes, say it. FIFTEEN was a good age for CONSENSUAL SEX. tell you fucken whut, i'll be putting foot up 15 year old a55 if they think they're gonna carry on with that crap.))

Hahahaha this is GOLD

**Number One** · 19th February 2013, 21:19

Originally Posted by Madness

It's been a long time since I had a woman on top.

bites knuckle...must not go there...must show restraint...

**PrincessBandit** · 19th February 2013, 21:23

Originally Posted by Swoop

People still watch that crap on tv1?

Seriously?

Meh, even crap can be entertaining at times.

**Winston001** · 19th February 2013, 21:26

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

He also commented though that women don't rise higher in the ranks because they're not prepared to stay behind for socialising/bonding over booze (golf, insert-option-of-choice) after hours - "their commitment stops at 5pm" i think he said.

That got me thinking. How many women (and men, for that matter) are penalised because they won't sell their soul to the company. .

Its not a matter of selling your soul to anybody. Human relationships trump all. If you meet someone who might at some later point need your expertise and you get on well with each other, they are likely to remember you and your business.

The point is that work does not stop at 5pm.

Furthermore many people (probably more men than women) enjoy out of the office socialising and don't regard it as hard work when they are young and keen.

Women in my experience are actually better at this networking than men and they can sustain it by phone, email, seminars etc etc over many years. What stops them is biology - their children become more important than work and good on them.

Personally I've never liked the schmoozing so instead did public speaking at service clubs and meetings when I could. My family have always come first.