Women are half of the workforce, yet far less than half of all leadership positions. The numbers don’t lie—only 22.3% of CEOs, 35.1% of key management positions, and 34% of board members in Australia are women.
Even in industries where women dominate, senior roles are often occupied by men.
This isn’t just about representation; it’s an adaptive leadership challenge that requires us to rethink the structures, behaviours, and mindsets that have shaped traditional leadership roles.
Why is this important?
Leadership is about more than just filling roles—it's about driving change, making decisions that shape our future, and bringing diverse perspectives to the table. When women are not in these decision-making roles, we lose out on the benefits—where flexibility, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex challenges are key.
However, breaking the glass ceiling isn’t just about creating opportunities; it’s about adapting to new ways of thinking and leading. Women often face the pressure to conform to existing leadership models, but the real challenge is for organisations to adapt and embrace leadership that values different approaches and perspectives.
The path forward requires us to identify and address the systemic barriers that prevent women from stepping into these roles. It’s about recognising diverse leadership styles are not just accepted but valued.
Breaking through the glass ceiling isn’t just about changing the numbers; it’s about changing the way we think about leadership itself.
P.S. If you’d like your leaders to strategically work through adaptive leadership challenges within your organisation, here are some ways we can work together:
Workshops for your whole team on Adaptive Leadership, using their real adaptive leadership challenges. We draw on the Harvard Kennedy School consultation process to work on real business challenges.
Leadership development training focused adaptive leadership challenges and mobilising people to do the work.
Keynote on Adaptive Leadership.
Read Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently, you can purchase it here.
If you’d like to chat, please book some time in my calendar.
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