Career Development and the Glass Ceiling Time for Upside Down Thinking?

Career Development and the Glass Ceiling – Time for Upside Down Thinking?

The whole paradigm of the ‘glass ceiling’ has been with us for in excess of 30 years. Whilst undoubtedly there have been advances, many will argue that these changes have been disproportionate and slow. This speed of change has often been dictated by control mechanisms subtly, and not so subtly, applied by the middle class, male strata of business society. It could be argued that the brakes were regularly applied to preserve the status quo, and that the vertically protected organisation of yesteryear meant the door was only ever ajar and never fully open. But as Bob Dylan sang, ‘The times they are a changing’.

The profile of our working community is changing, and as it changes opportunities increase. Those that are likely to fare best are a new breed of female entrepreneurs, who are ideally placed to fill a space that closely aligns to their talents. So why would you argue that women would be so well placed? Well ……

The number of sole traders & micro businesses (aka entrepreneurs) in the UK is increasing and is in the millions. The business demographics have changed, for good, and the success of these businesses will be dependent on:

· Collaboration

· Adaptability

· Curiosity

· Innovation

· Customer focus

· Compromise

· Trust

The macho leadership characteristics that did so much to ensure the glass ceiling remained in place will become a relic of the past, and will not help people to succeed in the newly emerging business world.

The future for young talented women in the workplace is brighter than it has ever been - but different. We need to ensure that our educational establishments and professional bodies (such as the CIH) provide opportunities, and equip this future talent pool with entrepreneurial skills in recognition of the fact that the delivery of social housing and wider community services will be through a collaborative network of micro business, traditional providers and entrepreneurs. So what needs to happen?

Perhaps a network of WISH winners should form a group to devise ways that connections are made with educational establishments and bodies, and form a ‘movement’ whereby opportunities are created to develop the skills, knowledge, contacts and experience to create micro businesses that would in effect act as satellites to housing organisations. In doing so this would provide young, talented women with the opportunity to look down on the glass ceiling, as opposed to looking skywards!

Up for the challenge?

Mark Glinwood

Managing Director – Capital Insight

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