Women and Command

- in a Masculine Workplace

 

This may seem to be a little story about animals, but stick with it. It's really about people.

According to Michael Grinder, there are two main types of people: Cats and Dogs - otherwise known as Credibles and Approachables.

 

The Cats Who Walk Alone

Cats are a committee of one, cannot conceive that anyone is superior to them, and will usually be found higher up the organizational tree looking down at the world. They make little effort to be liked, because…why would they? They are Credible, and respect is the only thing that matters. They are all about the Tasks, not the People; and information flow is strictly downwards. Alan Sugar would be a Big Cat.

 

Everyone loves a Labrador

Dogs, on the other hand, are happy, friendly folk with a ready smile and open arms. They are at the front gate barking a greeting to you as you arrive, and are always ready to play. You will always feel wanted around Dogs. They are about the People, not the Task, and communication is easy, because they are Approachable. You see them everywhere, thankfully, because 70% of the population are Dogs.

 

Cllick here for a great video-short about the Cat/Dog split.

 

In the Land of the Cats

Now, think of this: the higher up you go in a large organization, the fewer Dogs there are. Look around: they're all Cats. This is a glass ceiling that has nothing to do with gender, but all to do with style.

 

And here's the thing: Cats only really listen to other Cats. They take very little heed of Dogs ...and women tend to fall into the Dog category.

 

This is perhaps because of a lifetime's training to be nice, be supportive, create community, to listen, keep the family together, to deal with children. All wonderful, valuable talents, but sometimes a hindrance in business (not always, though: judiciously balanced they are your secret weapon - keep reading!).

 

A pet for every occasion

Not all women are Dog, of course, and not all men are Cat. This is an adopted style, not a genetic code… Further, most people are a slight mix of both, or use a different style at home than they do at work.

 

Interesting too, is whether a manager is Dog to his bosses and Cat to his subordinates, or the other way round. How do you think each of those would feel, to the subordinate?

 

You will find that whole organizations could be classified as Cat or Dog, too. Commercial organizations are more likely to be task-orientated, Credible…Cat. Some will suck the blood
out of their staff and spit them out...and see that as a valid approach. The Task is all that matters.

 

Government organizations are often people-orientated, Approachable…Dog. They bend over backwards to accommodate everyone, every version of humanity, with the result that tasks can take a very long time to complete, if ever. People are what matter.

 

Mix it up and be unstoppable

So where am I going with this, then, for women? Well, I'm saying that if you are a woman, and Approachable - then as a Dog in a Cat organization you are very likely going to be sidelined, unless you can develop Cat skills.

 

This isn't about 80s-style 'pretending to be a man' silliness. No. Just being Cat is as limiting in its way as just being Dog.

 

This is about expanding your style so that you are quite naturally able to switch between Credible and Approachable as the situation demands it. That's Charisma, and it will make you irresistible.

 

Metamorphosis before your eyes

What are these Cat skills? They are how you use your body, some of your behaviours; and your speech style. Here is an example: I watched, during my Group Mastery training, a petite woman who was smiley, happy, friendly, but with very little presence, have her posture, movements, speech style and expression altered, one by one.

 

Then, on the last correction - bang, we believed her, would have believed anything she told us. The board of any company would have listened to her, because she had become, for that moment, Credible.

 

You can find your charisma too

Freer Mind can work with women in senior management to increase their ability to command through the methods used by Michael Grinder.

 

Contact us today to discuss your particular situation and how we guarantee our agreed outcomes.

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