It’s really simple.
What women want is to be heard!
We do not need to have the problems solved for us. However, before we can make change happen we require dialogue, discussion, debate.
In my book “GUTSY: How Women Leaders Make Change”, I did some digging to consider basic things that have been handed to us that have become part of who we are, part of our culture. I was fascinated by the “pink and blue” thing. Where did it come from, what does it represent.
Did you know that before the 20th Century pink was for boys? It is a watered down version of red, and red is the color for bravery. The thinking was, red was too bold for little boys, so they had the mantle of pink.
Now, it belongs to the girls. So, let’s not forget it is a variation on the theme of being bold and brave.
Sounds like today’s women to me!
My daughter and I were debating the merit of even “wasting time” writing about colors for kids and then along came little Riley. Talk about GUTSY! She stood in a toy department, right there in front of all the pink and frilly little girl dolls and said in her little voice a variation of “Girls can like pink, they can like princesses, AND they can also like the action figures that are the domain of the boys.”
If you have not seen Riley, about 3 million viewers have fallen in love with her. And I want to acknowledge the man with the camera asking Riley questions. I assume it is her father and what I love is he is not challenging, just asking and listening.Watch Riley On Boys’ and Girls’ Toys
Now back to my basic premise, “what do we women want”?
We want what little Riley got; someone to ask and listen and not have to solve it for us.
In our next GUTSY WEEKEND at the beginning of February, I will have Riley there, speaking her piece along with Isabel Allende, Julia Roberts and others (sorry NOT in person).
So my question to each of you is “What do you want others to hear from you”?
Sylvia Lafair
Sylvia Lafair, PhD, is President of CEO – Creative Energy Options, Inc., a global consulting company focused on optimizing workplace relationships through her exclusive PatternAware™ Leadership Model. Dr. Lafair is the author of Don’t Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success published by Jossey-Bass. As an executive coach and leadership educator, she has more than 30 years of experience with all levels of management from leading corporate officers of global companies to executives of non-profits and owners of leading family-owned businesses. She is now offering GUTSY Women Weekends, giving women the opportunity to dialogue and clarify next steps.
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