How To Attract Women – Tips To Get More Women, Right Now

September 26, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

Most single men have to deal with the fact that they want to be able to attract more women and they do not want to have to wait forever to make it happen. If you want to improve you dating life, if you want to make your personal life explode with some flavor right now, there are a few simple changes that you can make in how you deal with women that can make all of the difference in the world.

Believing in all of the myths and the hype that surrounds the idea of how to attract women is going to make it HARD for you to ever get a handle on this part of your life. You have to be able to rise above those myths and those hyped techniques and instead start to focus on what builds natural attraction with a woman. If you don’t, you will end up wondering why it seems to be so EASY for some guys to master how to attract women, and yet, so complicated for YOU to do the same.

Here are some tips on how to attract women that you will help you get MORE women right now:

1. You have to be comfortable in your own skin.

While you might not want to admit it, most guys that are struggling to attract women have a hard time just being themselves and appearing relaxed in the presence of a woman. You don’t want to allow a woman’s possible judgment of you create a feeling of anxiousness or insecurity. For one, that is not attractive to a woman, and will keep you from being able to attract a woman. And for two, it will make you feel that much more uncomfortable and make the situation that much worse. You have to mimic what alpha males naturally do, and one of those things is to be comfortable in your own skin when you are around beautiful women.

2. Conversation skills with women are a MUST.

Face it, if you can approach a woman but you have nothing to talk about with her, where is that going to get you? Probably no further than where you stand right now. Conversation skills are a big factor of attraction with a woman, and until you have this element of your social platter all figured out and handled, you are not going to succeed with women as much as you would like to. Practice talking to women wherever you go just for the fun of it. Don’t expect to get her phone number or a date, just get her to talk to you and you will start to see that you are able to make conversation with women wherever you go and whenever you want to.

3. Being able to make her feel a connection matters.

Think about when you are talking to someone and you feel no real connection at all with them. Does it make you look forward to talking to them again or do you just go through the motions and forget about them later on? Probably the latter happens much more often and it’s the same thing when a woman has an interaction with a man. If you do not make her feel connected to you in some way, then the odds that she is going to end up throwing herself at you, or wanting to get to see you again are not really that good. Make connections with the women that you meet and you will end up getting more women than you can probably handle.

4. Whatever you do, don’t ignore how important it is to flirt with women.

Think about when relationships start to fizzle out and end up in the dumps. Usually the two people stop flirting with each other. Those sparks have to fly between you and her if you want to be able to date her, have a relationship with her, and make her feel attracted to you. Knowing how to attract women means that you have to be able to flirt with women without feeling any pressure. Just make it flow naturally, and you will be able to attract just about any woman that you desire.

A lot of men tend to make the subject of how to attract women a lot harder than it has to be. Don’t do that to yourself, because in the end, it’s only YOU that ends up getting in your own way. To get more women, to know how to attract women, you have to make her feel attraction and a connection to you in some way.

Want to more tips and tricks on how to attract women that will make your dating life change RIGHT NOW?

Click Here to Get Your FREE Report and Discover How to Easily Attract Beautiful Women

Copyright © 2010 Chris Tyler All Rights Reserved.

Social Empowerment Of Women: The Birthrigth Of The Female Gender

September 24, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

Power in Social Life

What does power do in most social situations? The answer is power influences, steers and regulates social behavior, opinions, attitudes, goals, needs and values of the powerless as desired by the powerful (Lewin, 1951; Thibaut & Kelley, 1959, Overbeck & Park, 2001). Take note, that the Powerful (power holders) influences, steers and regulates the powerless (any person). The use and misuse of power to influence, steer and regulate social behavior can be seen from the examples of high profile persons in public offices to the private employer of maids (Kipnis, Castcll, Gergen, & Mauch, 1976). If the use or misuse of power can involve any target person, why is the question of social empowerment of women alone being discussed here?

The author agrees that social empowerment is relevant for all powerless persons but especially more relevant for women and children. The greater urgency for social empowerment of women is for two reasons. Firstly, women are still the unequal partner in terms of being power holders with men in many areas of humanity. The symptoms of misuse of power to the disadvantage of women can be seen in the blatant and despicable cultural example of honor violence and killings for the purpose of protecting male honor and female fidelity (Wilson & Daly, 1992).  Violence and killings based on the right and protection of male honor is a classic example of the misuse of collective power against women. The author regards honor based violence and killings as criminal in nature and an excuse to practice collective violence and murder. Any religious, moral or cultural sanction does not alter the objective reality of violence and murder. Secondly, children are mostly dependent on women for their nurturance and survival. Thus, by socially empowering women, the chance of the dependent children being cared for is higher in the process.

Social Empowerment of Women

It is in the awareness of the realities of violence and murders being carried out openly in certain culture that has convinced the author to assert that nothing short of equality of power between male and female will rid the scourge female discrimination, violence and abuse now or in the future. There are many perspectives of social empowerment of women. But in this article, the author posits social empowerment of women as basically giving women social power on equal terms with men in every aspect of humanity. The basis for the equality of women with men has been covered in another article entitled: “Equality with Men: The Principal Right of Women” (http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-issues-articles/equality-with-man-the-principal-right-of-women-906326.html). Anything lesser, would be short-change of the rights of women regardless of any counter arguments.

The author has these to say regarding women’s equality to power: “Show me a nation that claims democracy and I will look for equally powerful women rulers besides their male counterparts. Show me a legislature that claims the rule of the law and I will look for equally powerful women judges besides their male counterparts. Show me a society that claims social progress and I will look for equal resources, benefits and amenities framed for the women as with men. Show me a belief that teaches Godliness and I will look for the teachings on the equality of women with men. Show me a true man and I will look at his equal treatment of women.”

The social empowerment of women is the birthright of all women that should not be open for a lesser negotiation. Any attempt to negotiate the social empowerment of women other than on equality would be an attempt to stifle the legitimate rights of women to be power holders in every aspect of humanity. If men have the right to power in religion, culture, economics, politics, academics, military and any other field – the women too have the same rights without the need to prove.

It is only men with low self-esteem who would object or negotiate for lesser about the social empowerment of women. And usually these categories of men psychologically suffer from low self-esteem. And low self esteem when projected on women many times lead to violence and aggression (Toch (1969/1993).  They (men with low self-esteem) have an erroneous cognitive perception that overpowering women is a means to regain or maintaining their self-esteem. In actual reality, men who have a balanced self-esteem do not need to resort to the misuse or abuse of power to maintain their self-esteem. The teaching of Yin and Yang although not psychologically based asserts that power sharing between male and female brings about balance in the universe.

Yin and Yang: Balance of Power

According to Hooker (1996) in Chinese philosophy, TAO the ultimate principle is divided into two opposing principles, which oppose one another in their actions. Among other things, Yin represents the female with all its characteristics while Yang represents the male with all its characteristics. All changes in the universe could be explained by the Yin and Yang and the five material agents of wood-fire-earth-metal-water. The author of this current article is not concerned with whom or what is the correct label for the ultimate principle or being in the universe. What the author like to point out from the teachings of Yin and Yang is that even in Chinese philosophy the female is considered to be an equal opposing (ultimate) principle that is equally responsible for universal changes. It takes both the male and female (ultimate) principles to maintain balance in the universe. Any imbalance in power affects the status quo of persons.

Status Quo: Determine Social Ideals

Power is associated with Status Quo. And Status Quo determines social ideals which when out of balance leads to social discrimination and inequality (Kay, Gaucher, Peach, Laurin, Friesen, Zanna, Spencer, 2009). Thus, it is impossible for women not to be discriminated if they do not share equal social power with men. The only assurance for an equal status quo between men and women is equality in social empowerment.

Let us look at the cultural practice of honor violence and killings in relation to the status quo of the male and female in such cultures. Males are considered the power holders with the females are the subjects to their power. The male power holder’s honor is upheld by female fidelity. Any infidelity whether real or perceived, objectively proven or unproven has the collective empowerment of the culture to practice violence and killings on females with impunity. Thus, the status quo is clear-cut with the males having all power and females having none. Let’s take the scenario in reverse. If the status quo were to be given to the females with them being the power holders, will the males subject themselves to violence and killings if found unfaithful? When a status quo (power holders) is one-sided, the ideals that proceed from it will be one-sided. And no amount of cultural justification (bullshit) is going to whitewash the ideals to be objective. All subjective ideals have a tendency to be discriminatory. And power affects moral thinking. If power is used abusively and in discrimination, it leads to defective moral thinking.

Power Affects Moral Thinking

How power affects moral thinking? Lammers & Stapel (2009) in their article entitled: “How Power Influences Moral Thinking” said that:

“It is shown that high power increases the use of rule-based (deontological) moral    thinking styles, whereas low power increases reliance on outcome-based (consequentialist) moral thinking. Stated differently, in determining whether an act is right or wrong, the powerful focus on whether rules and principles are violated, whereas the powerless focus on the consequences. For this reason, the powerful are also more inclined to stick to the rules, irrespective of whether this has positive or negative effects, whereas the powerless are more inclined to make exceptions.”

Why is it that every time an individual or a group comes into power, one of the first actions that can be seen is the attempt to secure legislature power and bring about creations of new legislations or changes to existing legislations of the land in favor of themselves. The answer is power. Like the power of the person who holds the gun, the persons who have legislature power have collective power which can be manipulated to serve the individual or group purpose. As Lammers & Stapel (2009) have pointed out power holders especially those with high power resort to the use of rule-based (deontological) moral thinking styles. Moralities based on deontological approach have an inherent biasness. One example of rule-based (deontological) moral thinking style is:

Women under Taleban rule.

Women have almost no social empowerment in the Taleban world. Women were systematically and methodically repressed in the name of culture and religion. Women were denied the right to education, blocked from health care, work, mobility, and endured public beatings at the hands of men (Islam for Today, 1977). The Taleban rule-based moral rule served the pleasure of men at the pain of the women. The use of religion and culture to sanction their ill-treatment of women does not differentiate them from common criminals who abuse women. The Taleban abused their power through so called moral rules that applied only to women. Can you identify Taleban mentality and cultures around you?

Women in West Virginia.

What about the status of women in developed nations? It was interesting to note that Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) in their report: “The Status of Women in West Virginia” has this to say in their overview of the status of women in West Virginia:

“West Virginia reflects the difficult obstacles to equality still facing many women in the United States. Women in West Virginia, and in the United States as a whole, are seeing important changes in their lives and in access to political, economic, and social rights. Still, they by no means enjoy equality with men, and they lack many of the legal guarantees that would allow them to achieve it. Women in West Virginia, and the nation, would benefit from stronger enforcement of equal opportunity laws, better political representation, adequate and affordable child care, stronger poverty reduction programs, and other policies that would help improve their status.”

The United States of America prides itself for its democracy and the rule of the law. Yet with all its political, economic, military and social power, the United States of America is not able to give the women in West Virginia what IWPR succinctly states as the right to “enjoy equality with men.” Equality with men is lacking even in one of the most powerful nation on earth? So the question, is the nation as a whole (including the women, the children, the minority, the disadvantaged) powerful? Who are actually holding powers? What does the rule-based (deontological) moral thinking in USA have to say about the social empowerment of women in West Virginia and across the USA?  Are there the existences of the Taleban mentality (men rules over women) in a developed nation like the USA? If there aren’t any such mentalities, why can’t the women in West Virginia be equal with their men?

It is only fair that we ask questions about the social empowerment of women in the context of both the so called undeveloped and the developed nations? What can be seen from the examples of women under the Taleban rule and the women in West Virginia is that women are still not equal in social empowerment with men whether it is in undeveloped or developed nations. So power does affect moral thinking of men even when it has negative effects on women. A morality or moral thinking that does not give equality to women losses it moral savors like salt without saltiness. But when morality or moral thinking gives equality with women than the balance to humanity and the status quo of all persons (men and women) is restored. It is for all these reasons that women should continue to demand and fight for their birthright –equality in social power with men. And any man who is psychologically healthy and balanced would join the women in their rightful fight towards social empowerment.  Women every where, know this,

SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT TO BE EQUAL WITH MEN IS YOUR BIRTHRIGTH AS A WOMAN.

DON’T NEGOTIATE FOR ANYTHING LESSER…

DON’T STOP FIGHTING UNTIL YOU GET WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS…

REFERENCE

Aaron C. Kay, Danielle Gaucher, Jennifer M. Peach, Kristin Laurin, Justin Friesen, Mark P. Zanna, and Steven J. Spencer, Inequality, Discrimination, and the Power of the Status Quo: Direct Evidence for a Motivation to See the Way Things Are as the Way They Should Be, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2009, Vol. 97, No. 3, 421–434.

Chinese Philosophy (1996). Wu Hsing The Five Material Agents. Retrieved February 5th, 2009 From WSU.EDU Website: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/chphil/yinyang.htm

David Kipnis, Patricia J. Castcll, Mary Gergen, & Donna Mauch. (1976). Metamorphic Effects of Power, Journal of Applied Psychology, 1976, Vol. 61, No. 2, 127-135.

Islam For Today (1977). The Taleban’s Other outrage. Retrieved February 6th, 2009 From Islamfortoday.com Website: http://www.islamfortoday.com/taleban6.htm

Institute for Women’s Policy Research. The Status of Women in West. Retrieved February 6th, 2009 From IWPR.Org Website: http://www.iwpr.org/states2002/fullreports/wv.pdf

Lewin, K. (1951). Field theory in social science: Selected theoretical papers. Chicago: Harper & Brothers.

Joris, Lammers & Diederik A. Stapel. (2009). How Power Influences Moral Thinking, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2009, Vol. 97, No. 2, 279–289.

Overbeck, J. R., & Park, B. (2001). When power does not corrupt: Superior individuation processes among powerful perceivers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 549–565.

Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. New York: Wiley.

Toch, H. (1993). Violent men: An inquiry into the psychology of violence. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. (Original work published 1969).

Wilson, M., & Daly, M. (1992). The man who mistook his wife for chattel. In J. H. Barkow, L. Cosmides, & J. Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture (pp. 289–322). New York: Oxford University Press.

Reservists? Leadership Skill Training Offers Solution to UK Businesses

September 18, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

A lack of leadership skill training is widely accepted as a core weakness in general British management, and an area that needs to be urgently addressed.This claim is supported by research conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which concluded that as many as “two thirds of UK organisations are suffering from a shortage of highly effective leaders”. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shares this viewpoint, stating that “Good leaders, supervisors and managers are essential if UK business performance is to improve.”Furthermore, in October 2005, a team of leading business academics identified poor leadership training as one of the top five key weaknesses in business management. The report found a strong correlation between these deficiencies and the capabilities developed by Reservists, whose broad training encompasses transferable skills such as leadership, self-confidence and initiative.All Reservists receive training in leadership skillsAs an integral part of Reserve training, Reservists are required to lead teams both on exercise and during general training. Feedback is given on their capabilities from which they are able to develop their leadership skills further. This is of particular value to their civilian employment.The CBI believes that the training and experience gained by Reservists could help UK businesses to tackle the critical weaknesses in management and leadership. “With the Armed Forces’ long held reputation for high quality leadership, the CBI believes that those men and women serving as Reservists could develop the skills through their training to fill these roles and become our business leaders and managers of the future.”Forward-thinking companies recognise benefits of employing ReservistsUK business leaders need to look for alternative and more innovative approaches towards training in order to develop management and leadership skills throughout their organisations. Forward-thinking companies are already benefiting from employing Reservists and utilising their unique leadership skill training to enhance their organisation’s capability.To raise awareness of the advantages of employing members of the Reserve Forces, SaBRE is running a campaign whereby employers can publicly give their backing. Companies wishing to pledge their support for current or future Reservists in their employment are invited to sign the Statement of Employer Support which can be found through the SaBRE website.

POLITICAL THUGGERY AND VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA: THE BANE OF WOMEN PARTIICPATION IN POLITICS

September 17, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

INTRODUCTION

Olusegun Obasanjo (2002: 50-51) asserts:

                        We fight, and sometimes shed

                        blood to achieve and retain political

                        power because for us in Nigeria, the

                        political kingdom has for too long been

                        the gateway to the economic kingdom

The foregoing statement captures the content and context of political thuggery and violence in Nigeria. The statement demonstrates how blood is being exchanged for political power in Nigeria. The use of thugs in Nigerian politics has not only led to waste of human resources, but it has also resulted in the dearth of able-bodied men who may be useful in the future of Nigeria, and low participation of women in politics.

            Without doubt, Nigerian politics has since independence, been characterized by thuggery and violence. Little wonder, politics is conceived as a dirty game and exclusive right of thugs and hooligans in Nigeria. Consequently, Nigeria politics manifest in acrimony, assault, assassination, intimidation, harassment, maiming and killing. This trend is not a phenomenon of recency; thuggery, brutality and violence political behaviour have been with us for the past four decades. Immediately after independence the politicians, in an attempt to capture, exercise, and retain power within their regional settings involved themselves in various acts that were politically immature, unwise and distrastrous. They adopted a style that was antithetical to democratic tenet and good governance. They recruited, trained and empowered thugs to harass, intimidate and victimize perceived political opponents and opposing views against their political ambition. This culture of thuggery has not only been imbibed and sustained as part of the country’s political behaviour since independence to the present moment, it has been one of the potent causes of the low participation of women in politics. It is against this background that this paper examines thuggery and violence in Nigerian politics, its causes, effects on women political participation and suggest ways of ensuring maximum and high participation of Nigerian women in politics.

 
UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPTS
THUGGERY

            Thuggery according to the (Oxford Dictionary of Current English (1998: 952), simply means violent act or behaviour by ruffians. From the foregoing, it is observed that thuggery is synonymous with violence.

            Howell defined thug politics the tireless repetition of misleading facts designed to depict an opponent as personally despicable and in regard to governance as dangerous to physical and spiritual life of a nation (2004:3). Thuggery is an act characterized by rudeness, hooliganism, touting, intimidation and harassment. It is a behaviour that contradicts peace, harmony and co-existence among groups. Political thuggery is an illegitimate and violent means of seeking political power with a view to subverting national opinion for parochial ends through self imposition.

Therefore, political thuggery is simply the criminalisation of politics. When politics is criminalized, it is left in the hands of ruffians, thugs and hooligans, because the good people are scared away.

 

VIOLENCE

            Violence is defined as “the illegitimate and unauthorized use of force to effect decisions against the will or desires of others” (Wolf, 1969:606).

            Karl Schmit (1968:3) posits that violence, particularly political violence, represents a disturbance to the political equilibrium system. According to Gurr (1970:2), political violence refers to all collective attacks within a political community against the political regime, its actors including competing political groups as well as incumbents – or its policies. From the foregoing, one can observe that there is a correlative relationship between the two concepts. As a matter of fact, they are complementary. The end-product of thuggery is violence. Violence is the means through which thugs achieve their aims.

 

THUGGERY AND VIOLENCE IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

            It is evident that Nigerian politics is characterized by thuggery. Similarly, it is an indisputable fact that Nigerian politics is not violent-free. In fact, contemporary events, across the country have clearly demonstrated that Nigerian politics has been hijacked by political thugs.

            Since the 60′s, no regime can be said to be immune from this syndrome, both military and civilian governments have been partaking in this dastardly act. Thuggery has been elevated to a fashionable but regrettable status within the Nigeria polity. The number of thugs a politician can keep serves as a determining factor for his electoral machinations and outcome. Put differently, the more thugs a politician has, the more relevant he becomes in the society. Thuggery has become a means to an end in Nigerian politics. It is a means of sustaining power and life, an asset that brings money for thugs for life sustenance while it brings and sustains power for their barons. It is an indispensable instrument in the hands of hungry power seekers.

            Thuggery and Godfatherism have become so prevalent in transitional process even in democratic dispensations. The social, political and economics status and stature of those involved have made it a national concern. Since Godfathers are themselves the ruling elite or potential ruling elite, their activities have been institutionalized to the point of subverting the constitution for parochialism and aggrandizement. Subscribing to this assertion, a scholar has tersely submitted that:

                                    Political godfathers are by design

                                    placed above the laws of the land

                                    including the constitution. They and their

                                    thugs can carry arms without hindrance.

                                    They are entitled to Police escorts

                                    and are immune to the crime of abduction,

harassment and maiming (Gboyega, 2004:6).

Most of these thugs are recruited and trained for various political purposes such as intimidation, harassment, violence, assassination etc. some of them are placed on regular salaries, with allowances accompanying their remuneration. Some of them are employed as special advisers, special assistants and personal assistants while those who do not fit in for the aforementioned positions are made contractors to the government. Still, some are paid off immediately after the usual assignment.

            The politicians recruit the youths comprising of men as their thugs and touts. Most of these thugs were used to rig elections in 2003 and 2007 general elections in Nigeria, especially in the south-west, where most of the bye-elections were monitored and conducted by political thugs as officers who were officially designated to do the job were overpowered by these hoodlums, causing crisis and violence in the voting venues. These thugs compelled innocent people to vote against their wishes. The party agents at the polling booths were threatened to compromise, and INEC officials were forced to do what they would not have done ordinarily.

            Adeyemi and Adeyemi (2003:370) express concern over the situation of politics in Nigeria, when they observe that:

                                    During the ward congress   of the PDP,

                                    an intra-party affair, many politicians

                                    went to the congress venue armed

                                    with assault rifles and acid containers

                                    for possible use on opponents

 

CAUSES OF POLITICAL THUGGERY AND VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

            Poverty and unemployment – The majority of youth in this nation are jobless, with no means of livelihood, they are impoverished, and mercenary politics becomes the way out. The politicians capitalize on this and recruit the youth who not only constitute the pillar of society but also the most vulnerable to the self-inflicted poverty, as their thugs and touts to perpetrate violence.

Sit-tight Syndrome – This has becomes a phenomenon in Nigerian politics. This is a situation in which an individual tries to hold on to power for personal aggrandizement or gains. In an attempt to hang on to power, leaders often create a regime of violence, repression and bloodshed. They organize political thugs, hooligans and scavengers to sing their praises, intimidate opponents and kill them if they become intransigent (Oyatope, 2003:115). The unnecessary and uncoordinated urge to control, dominate and amass wealth for their progeny in the infinite future by the politicians informs the emergence of the sit-tight phenomenon

            Prebendal politics – In Nigeria, politics is conceived as an investment. The politicians, having invested colossally on campaigns and other political activities, coupled with the existing system of winner takes all, would want to win at all cost. And the need to employ the use of thugs and touts to distabilize and rig elections becomes inevitable, especially when such politicians are not popular candidates.

            Refusal to accept electoral defeat in good faith is also a fertile factor that can breed thuggery and trigger violence in politics.

            Absence of good governance and low political culture are also contributive factors to the menace of thuggery and violence. Hunger, marginalisation, incapacitation, intolerance, domination, apathy and cynism etc can also cause political violence.

            Esew (2003:232) Summarizes the causes of political violence as follows: Domination and marginalization of sections and groups and persons in the acquisition and sharing of political positions, rigging of elections and manipulation of political process in favour or against certain groups, sections and persons; and falling apart of sponsors and those sponsored (Godfather and God sons) over contracts, appointments or methods of management of states.

 

EFFECTS OF POLITICAL THUGGERY AND VIOLENCE ON WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

            The first issue to be considered is the issue of thugs. Since it has been established in this study, that the number of thugs a politician can keep serves as a determining factor for his electoral machinations and outcome, the game may not be palatable for women. This is because women find it difficult if not impossible to breed and keep thugs for political purpose. And this will definitely affect her electoral machinations and outcome. Also, due to the near anarchical nature of Nigerian polity and society, women who want to participate in politics usually discover that the political environment is often unfriendly. Rather than being democratized, the Nigerian state has largely been militarized by the struggle for power amongst the various contending groups in the polity. The civil disturbances, rise of ethnic militias and politically motivated killings of opponents are pointers to increasing or simmering militarism of the Nigeria state, which has further discouraged women from participating in politics.

            Another important issue is the natural stature of women as weaker sex. Women naturally are not as strong as men and so cannot be engaged in thuggery. As a matter of emphasis, woman nature deters thuggery and violence and not willing to engage in such. No woman wants to be seen as thug or perceived as sponsor of such. Women like to preserve their dignity anywhere they found themselves. And since Nigeria political terrain embraces thuggery and violence, it becomes difficult for women to compete favourably with men in such situation.

            Additionally, is the “Light Heart” imbued in women. Women cannot struggle in the atmosphere of rancour and violence. The fear of being attacked is always in their heart, their mind is not as strong as that of men. As mothers, women cannot risk anybody’s life for election victory which the men in Nigerian politics care less about (Olugbemi, 2004:233).

            Thuggery and violence are not gender neutral. Male youths and men commit much of the political violence throughout the world. Males are at the centre of political tussles. The killings and destructions reported from the different political dispensations results from men’s quest for power (Adeniyi, 2003:350). Male formulate and finance political crises. Consequently, the attainment of political power in Nigeria is through violent struggle, which cannot be undertaken by a person with light heart. I have a practical experience to illumine this point. During the gubernatorial election crisis in Ondo State, Nigeria, in the year 2007, INEC, an electoral body in charge of general elections, delayed the announcement of result of the Governorship election; people mobilized themselves to INEC Office to ensure that the results were not manipulated. I was among the multitude that staged the protest: At a point, Policemen came into the scene and started shooting sporadically into the air, the next thing I heard was a phone call from my wife weeping profusely via the phone that I should come back home and allow INEC officials to do whatever they want to do with the result. While I was ready to risk my life to prevent the election results from being manipulated, my wife was much concerned about my life. I could not ignore her cry that I had to leave the venue immediately. I know that several wives would have called their husbands that same day in such manner, while several mothers would also have done same to their children. This is reality. Women have no heart to harbour thuggery and violence that accompany politics in Nigeria.

            Last but not the least is self-complacency being exhibited by women in time of political crisis and violence. When political environment is saturated with violence women tends to display complacency, especially the Yoruba women, from the south western part of Nigeria. They prefer to remain where they are and maintain the status quo than to be engulfed with crisis and violence in the process of making a change. This attitude cannot ensure adequate participation of women in Nigeria politics. This is because of the perpetual fear in their mind. For instance all the women that contested for assembly seat and lost in Ondo State, Nigeria did not go to court to challenge the victory of the winners at the election. Even though, some of the losers came from the ruling party, but the courage and boldness to challenge was lacking. The reason for this cannot be farfetched; it is simply because the political environment was tensed with thuggery and violence. Politicians in the state were living under a perpetual fear. None could sleep with his two eyes closed as politicians were regularly being attacked, intimidated, harassed and killed. Women have no space in their body system to accommodate this perpetual fear and danger. And this tends to limits their electoral victory, and consequently their participation in politics.

 

CONCLUSION

            This paper has discussed extensively political thuggery and violence as the bane of women participation in politics in Nigeria. It has been established in this paper that women folk do not subscribe to thuggish and violent behaviour that currently defines and situates Nigeria politics. And so, limit their political participation.

            In order to ensure that more women participate in politics, the Nigerian state and the political milieu have to be more democratic, secured and peaceful to pave way for further entrance of women into active participatory politics. With good governance, enduring democracy and a democratic political culture that promotes peace and orderliness, and eschews thuggery and violence, it is believed that women participation in politics will be on the increase in the foreseeable future.

 

 

 

 
 
REFERENCES

Adeniyi, E. (2003) “Effect of Political Crises on Women: Towards the Management and

Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts,” in Kwanashie. M. (ed) Politics and Political Power Relations in Nigeria, Lagos Dat and Partners Logistics Ltd.

Esew, N. (2003) “The Mass Media as a tool for Achieving National Integration in Nigeria,” in

Kwanashie. M. (ed) Politics and Political Power Relations in Nigeria, Lagos Dat and Partners Logistics Ltd.

Gboyega, A. (2004) “Democracy in Nigeria: Dividends, Prospects and Problems” A Paper

delivered at the event marking the fifth Anniversary of Return to Civil Democratic Governance in Oyo State, May 26

Gurr, T. (1970) Why men Rebel, Princeton, Princeton University press

Howell, R. (2004) Political Thuggery in Vogue, Chicago, L and T Press Ltd.

Karl S. (1968) The Politics of Violence, Engle wood Cliffs N. J. Prentice Hall Inc.

Obasanjo O. (2002) “42nd Nigeria Independence Anniversary National Broadcast” in Tell

Magazine, No. 41, October 14, 2002

Olugbemi K. (2004) Women and Political Development in Nigeria since 1960 in Agagu A. and

Ola. R. (eds) Development Agenda of the Nigerian State, Ibadan, Fiag (Nigeria) Publishers

Oxford Dictionary of Current English (1998): Oxford University Press

Wolff R. (1969) “On the Violence” Journal of Philosophy (October 2).

           

Business Funding For Women – Help for Your Business

September 16, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

Help Starting Your Small Business

There are a lot of nuances in starting a business. You should always be aware of the laws when it comes to building codes as well as statutes. You may need some help starting your small business. There are ways to help with the financial as well as legal and all points in between. It is all a matter of knowing where to look.

The United States Small Business Association provides a list of agencies that they fund that provide management skills, financial and technical assistance. The truth is most local and state development agencies offer a smorgasbord of grants, loans and other beneficial advice that can help you get going. If you are a veteran or a person with disabilities check with your local development organization or the Office of Veteran’s Affairs. The SBA has a website it is a good place to start.

Every blossoming business is boiling with its share of problems but legal issues need not be one for you. There is a site where you can get all your legal answers for free. The project is called S.C.O.R.E. they are a group of lawyers who have found a novel way to give something back. They are a small business-mentoring site and will gladly answer your questions and offer advice for free.

The small business help center is also a helpful site to visit! Step by step instructions are offered by a guide from inception to completion that will assist you with starting your small business. [It is the one place that has advice on what forms you would need and taxes you would be expected to pay.|From what forms you would need, to taxes you would be expected to pay, it is the perfect place for advice.} There will be lots of forms and contracts that need to be in place before you even open the doors or see a dime of revenue. Some business women are in violation of some state or federal business regulations and don’t even know it. Be mindful that it doesn’t happen to you.

The days where you had an idea and you just did it are gone. There are rules for everything and they must be followed. I have witnessed business shut down before they even began for lack of a legal help in the planning stage. When you sit down to set up your outline to help starting your small business make one of the first things on the list to get legal assistance.

Beginning your business will sometimes it will look as if it is all up hill. You do not have to go it alone. Getting help starting your small business means asking the right questions. It could be as easy as ?Where do I begin?? The Internet is a great place to start your search or the local library. Small business has become a priority for the federal government and there are tax breaks and small business loans coming on the horizon. The economy may be a little shaken but it has not failed and there are ways to start a business and become successful even now.

SELF HELP GROUP AS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY AND DOABLE APPROACH TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN INDIA

September 14, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

SELF HELP GROUP AS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY AND DOABLE APPROACH TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN INDIA

Prof. D.Sambangi

Head, Department of Social Work, Kodaikanal Christian College, Tamil Nadu, India 

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THE WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Empowerment is a process of awareness and capacity building leading to greater participation, to greater decision making power and control and transformative action. Empowerment of women signifies harnessing women power by conscientising their tremendous potential and encouraging them to work towards attaining a dignified and satisfying way of life through confidence and competence as person with self-respect, rights and responsibilities.  Empowerment as a concept was introduced at the International Women’s Conference at Nairobi in 1985. The conference defined empowerment as “A redistribution of social power and control of resources in favour of women. Empowerment is a multi-faceted process which encompasses many aspects i.e. enhancing awareness, increasing access to resources of economic, social and political etc.”1 In recent years women empowerment has become a subject of great concern for the nations all over the world especially in poor and developing countries. The impact of globalization is seen eventually on position of women in some form or other in most of the developing countries with the variation of degree. The United Nations has also strived hard in an incredible way to draw the due attention of the World Community on this issue in the past years.

(1. International Women’s Conference held at Nairobi in the year 1985)

SHG AS AN INEXORABLE WAY TO EMPOWER WOMEN-RATIONALE

One has to believe that the progress of any nation is inevitably linked with social and economical plight of women in that particular country. For concrete results, we have to assert and act with our full might and what is needed most. Empowerment by way of participation in SHG can bring enviable changes and enhancement in the living conditions of women in poor and developing nations.. Self Help Group (SHG) is a process by which a group of 10 – 20 women with common objectives are facilitated to come together voluntarily to participate in the development activities such as saving, credit and income generation thereby ensuring economic independence. The principles underlying the SHGs are financing the poorest of the poor, and achieving holistic empowerment. SHG phenomenon certainly brings group consciousness among women, sense of belonging, adequate self confidence. What she cannot achieve as an individual, can accomplish as a member of group with sufficient understanding about her own rights, privileges, roles and responsibilities as a dignified member of society in par with man. When she becomes a member of SHG, her sense of public participation, enlarged horizon of social activities, high self-esteem, self-respect and fulfillment in life expands and enhances the quality of status of women as participants, decision makers and beneficiaries in the democratic, economic social and cultural spheres of life. Thus undoubtedly SHG can be an effective instrument to empower women socially and economically by which the implication on the overall development of women is indisputably possible particularly for a country like India wherein still large segment of women population are underprivileged, illiterate, exploited and deprived of  basic rights of social and economic spectrum.

The experiences of SHGs in many countries have been proving great success as an effective strategy and approach in recent years. Group-oriented efforts in the form of Micro-credit groups in different countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia are examples of current self-help efforts. The grameen groups in Bangladesh ,Local self-help development efforts – harambee (Thomas, 1985) in Kenya , Tontines or Hui with 10 to15 members  involved in financial activities through cash or kind in Vietnam,self help efforts through credit unions, fishermen groups, village-based banks, irrigation groups etc (Gaonkar, 2004 ) in Indonesia , the self-help groups (SHGs) in countries like Thailand, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and India are successfully proving forms of micro-credit groups or  SHGs.

THE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN INDIA

The Constitution of India guarantees equality, liberty and dignity to the women of India. The Fundamental Rights, The Directive principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties etc virtually assure equal status to women and provide special protection. After independence, a gamut of laws have been passed and some have been altered so as to award equal share to women in property as well as to eradicate some of the injustices meted out to women. However there are many shortcomings and ambiguities in the enforcement of laws.  As a result of this, the evil of dowry continues in spite of the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961. Sati Prevention Act was passed in 1987 but glorification of sati continues in the state of Rajasthan. Immoral Traffic Prevention Act was passed in 1956 but does not prohibit prostitution altogether. Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1975 has led to amniocentesis and female foeticide . It is  believed  that 78,000  female foeticide  are done every year in India.. Indecent Representation of women’s Protection  Act was passed in 1986  but the media still continues  to project  women as sex objects . Suitable changes in the Indian Penal code, Code of Criminal Procedures and the Indian Evidence Act have been made especially for the offence of rape, but judicial process and perception continue to be heavily weighed against victims of rape. Some of the labour laws are never enforced and some enforced in a mutilated form. In spite of the Equal Remuneration Act 1976, there is discrimination in promotion, training and transfer on the basis of sex.  By and large undoubtedly more than six decades of efforts since Independence  by the government and spell of fights and struggle  under the immense  pressure of women  lib activists  in the country  have indeed brought certain  changes  in social, psychological  and economic and political spheres of life. Consequently it becomes an imperative need to look into problems and issues and their implications upon underprivileged women thereby to explore appropriate strategies and approaches uplifting women in all spheres of life in India.

THE GENESIS AND GROWTH OF SHGS IN INDIA

The Self Help Group (SHG) in India has come a long way, since its inception in 1992.  The spread of SHGs in India has been phenomenal. It has made dramatic progress from 500 groups in 1992 (Titus 2002) to some 16, 18,456 groups that have taken loans from banks. About 24.25 million poor households have gained access to formal banking system through SHG-bank linkage programme and 90% of these groups are only women  groups (NABARD2005)2. The NABARD(2006)3 homepage declares that more than 400 women join the SHG movement every hour and an NGO joins the Micro-Finance Programme every day. There are also agencies which provide bulk funds to the system through NGOs. Thus organizations engaged in micro finance activities in India may be categorized as Wholesalers, NGOs supporting, SHG Federations and NGOs directly retailing credit borrowers or groups of borrower. The spread of the SHGs is highly concentrated in the southern part of the country with very few in the north and the east. Over half a million SHGs have been linked to banks over the years but a handful of States, mostly in South India, account for almost 60% of this figure (Harper 2002b, NABARD 2005:41). Andhra Pradesh has over 42%, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have 12% and 11% respectively, and Karnataka has about 9% of the total SHGs (Chakrabarti, 2004). Since the advent of   SHG in India, it’s growth rate has been very low in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, Utter Pradesh , Madhya Pradesh , Orissa and union territory of Andaman Nicobar Islands where the status of women is still very backward and pathetic.

The SHGs have taken the form of a movement for women’s social development in India. In fact as a strategy for women’s development, they have arisen out of the perceived problem of women’s lack of access to resources at both the household and the village level. Women’s development has gone  beyond the economic dimension and place emphasis on issues relating to equality, autonomy and self reliance at the individual level and on solidarity of the community (of women) at the group level (Hardiman & Midgley 1982, Dube 1988, Pieterse 2001). As a group-oriented model, SHGs in India is a mechanism for women’s development to bring in individual and collective empowerment through improvement in both ‘condition’ and ‘position’ of women. Women are organized as collectives towards the overall goal of achieving gender equality as well as sustainable,Comprehensive community development (Purushothaman1998:80). Unlike the self-help projects in Kenya, the SHGs in India are primarily micro-credit groups and the direct objective of micro-credit is to improve the ‘condition’ of women. Women in India are mobilized to protest against domestic violence, legal discrimination, rising prices, dowry,Prohibition of liquor, rape, child marriage, female infanticide, sexual abuse, domestic violence, male alcoholism and so on. In dealing with women’s strategic interests, women participate in collective activities through SHGs to address these strategic needs. In the process, it aims to empower women with several forms of power. Hence a study on Empowerment of rural women through SHG in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, South India

A STUDY ON EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN THROUGH SHG IN VELLORE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA

The objectives of the study: The main objectives are a) to understand and analyze  psychological, social and economical benefits accrued by women participating in SHGs and b) to explore the merits of SHGs as strategy and approach to empower women in India.

Nature of the study: The study is a descriptive in nature as it has attempted to describe the psychological, social and economic benefits enjoyed by the members by participating in self help groups. T

Data Base: The information collected directly by the researcher from 100 respondents’ form as primary data and other details collected from text books, reports, websites etc form as secondary data.

Sampling and Tools: This micro –level study was conducted among women of 20 Self-Help Groups which have completed 5 years.   A total of 100 women (members of SHGs)

were selected comprising four persons randomly from every group and  one animator from each group purposively. Interview schedule was utilized as a tool of data collection as most of the respondents were semi –literate.

Place of study: This study was conducted in three villages i.e. Ariyur Village, Ariyur Colony , Chitheri  and Avarampalayam Village  of  Vellore Panchayat Union , Vellore District , Tamil Nadu,South India.

THE MAIN FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

Psychological Empowerment : The participation of women in SHGs enables them to acquire inimitable psychological benefits to rise up psychologically powerful which is an  essence for women empowerment in any socio-cultural and economic environment and situations. The respondents of the present study have accrued various psychological benefits including self awareness, high self esteem, self confidence and courage , understanding about own rights, privileges, roles  and responsibilities, power of self determination , Positive attitude , Risk taking ability , Power to face challenges of daily life, gaining knowledge and new ideas and skills, great relief from mental stress and anxiety, leading a happy and satisfied  life and so on. Out of 100 respondents 75 percent had got self awareness gaining adequate understanding about strength and weakness of self to reasonable extent. About 82 percent had developed a high level of self –Esteem. 69 percent of the respondents had obtained enough Self – Confidence and Courage. SHGs had given enough exposure for about 89 percent of the respondents to understand about their own rights, previleges, roles and responsibilities. The power of self-determination had tremendously improved among 70 percent of respondents. The positive attitude about life and society had come to more than 65 percent of the respondents. The risk taking ability had developed among 55 percent of respondents. The SHGs had enhanced the power to face challenges of daily life for 63 percent of the respondents. Through participation in SHGs 67 percent had got General Knowledge, New ideas and communication skills. The four fifth of the respondents i.e. 80 percent had great relief from mental stress and anxiety due to group moral support and comfort. The majority of the respondents (73 percent) were able to lead happy and satisfied life  due to participation in SHGs

Social Empowerment: The women who participate in SHGs garner a lot of social benefits including awareness about society and existing social problems, good recognition and image in the family and community, role in family decision making on important matters, plan and promote better education for their children, Able to take care of health for children and aged. participation in public and political life, chance to serve the community including fighting for the basic amenities and welfare needs of village community such as safe drinking water, street light, public sanitation etc, chance to help weaker section like aged and differently abled,  able to resist social evils like dowry, violence against women, gender discrimination and other social injustice in the family as well community , sense of responsibility for collective action and solidarity etc. Out of 100 respondents 83 percent got awareness about their own community and society in general. About 79 percent enjoyed considerable recognition and good image in the family and community after joining SHGs. Nearly 65 percent had the privilege to participate in family decision making process on important matters. 57 percent of the respondents were able to contribute for the education of their children. More than 60 percent of the respondents were able to take care of health of the children and aged in the family. For half of the respondents SHGs provided opportunities to participate in public and political life.  75 percent of the women had the chance to serve their own community including fighting for the basic amenities and welfare needs of village community such as safe drinking water, street light, public sanitation etc. One fourth of the women ( 25 percent ) got chance to help aged and disabled in the community. More than two third ( 72 percent) able to resist social evils like dowry, violence against women, gender discrimination and other social injustice in the family as well community. About 60 percent of the respondents felt that they had sense of responsibility for solidarity and collective action.

Economic Empowerment : The members of SHGs are really privileged to enjoy many economic benefits including saving, liberation from debt trap, economic independence , economic skills for income generation, able to contribute for education of children , able to meet the healthcare needs, accumulate economic assets including house, land , jewels other valuable things, economically strong to meet unexpected financial challenges and so on. All the respondents were able to save reasonable amount for safety and security. For more than 60 percent of the respondents were able to liberate their families from the debt trap. About 71 percent of them attained  economic independence to greater extent and able to contribute towards prosperity of the family, More than half of the respondents (58 percent) had acquired some economic skills or other with help of SHGs  for income generation or additional income, 69 percent of the respondents were in a position to contribute for education of children and healthcare needs of the family with help of saving, 38 percent had accumulated economic assets including house, land, jewels other valuable things. Majority of the respondents (78 percent) felt economically strong enough to meet unexpected financial challenges being as members of SHGs with help of saving.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY

The outcome of the study clearly indicates that the majority of women who constituted as respondents for the present study, being members of SHGs have benefitted considerably in terms of psychological, social and economic development. Women participation in SHG have obviously created tremendous impact upon the life pattern and style of poor women especially in rural areas and empowered them at various level not only as individual also as member of family, member of community and society as whole. It can be concluded that the SHG strategy is undoubtedly a convivial experiment for women empowerment in India as it opens up flood gates of opportunities to enhance capacities and capabilities in their development and growth in total perspective. It is evident from the study undertaken by the researcher that women particularly in rural, tribal and slum areas can be empowered psychologically, socially and economically with the concerted application of SHG as an effective strategy and doable approach. It is also understood from the study that Indian women have adequate potential sparks which can be well fanned into flames with necessary guidance and training through SHGs thereby bringing them to live in par with men in all spheres of human life in our society. Therefore as a group-oriented model, SHGs in India can be evolved as mechanism or movement for women’s development to bring in individual and collective empowerment through improvement in both ‘condition’ and ‘position’ of women in India or else where the plight of women is miserable and pitiable.s

Suggestions and Recommendations

The following suggestions and recommendations have been made based on the findings of the study and also in the interest of welfare women of India in general

The Concerted efforts should be made to form SHGs for women as much as possible in rural and tribal villages and slums to uplift womenfolk particularly in very backward states and Union territories by government agencies, Educational Institutions, NGOs and other service organizations of civil societies.

Government both state and Central should work hand- in -hand to promote the concept  of SHG without political biasness and  selfish motives taking into account the welfare of the womenfolk in general by incorporating as an important strategy for women empowerment in the national policy and  allocating more grant in the budget and developing effective implementing machinery.

NGOs, Educational Institutions and Social Service organizations etc engaged in the works of promotion and development of SHGs should be encouraged at all levels with sufficient financial grants and appreciation and awards

Conducive atmosphere and harmonious network should be established among Government Agencies, Banks, Ngos , Other service organizations for effective functioning of SHGs to avoid overlapping  and duplications.

Banks and other financial institutions should work with open-mind and service motives to promote SHG among women particularly downtrodden communities like scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, marginalized groups in order bring them into main stream of development and growth of India

SHGs should be strictly encouraged to undertake economic activities /income generating activities for sustainable income to the group.

SHG can be encouraged to form cooperative societies to promote Village, Cottage and Other industries for which raw materials and resources available abundantly in and around rural and tribal areas

SHG may be encouraged to involve in manufacturing products such as electronic and electrical goods, readymade garments , handicrafts  to  fetch market in Third –World countries ,European countries, USA and Latin American countries

In order to promote SHGs for women empowerment Mass media such New papers, TV , radio etc can play a significant role by creating awareness in the public and also among women about the merits of SHGs by publishing success stories of SHGs ,case studies, achievment of NGOs and Governemtn efforts etc

References

Dr.Jaya Kothai Pillai, 1995, Women Empowerment ,Gyan Publishing House,

New Delhi

2. Dr. Anita Arya, ,1963  Indian Women-Volume I,II&III Gyan Publishing House

New Delhi

3.Tandon.R.K. 1998, Women in India , Indian publishers & distributors, Delhi,

1998

4.Agarwal,C.M, 2001, Indian Women , India Publishers & Distributors, Delhi

5. Saraswathi Mishra, Status of Indian women , Gyan Publishing  House ,

New Delhi, 2002

6.Karl,Marilee,1995,Women and Empowerment; Ned Books and UN  Non –

Governmental service

7.UNICEF, ,1994,Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls :                  policy Review , UNICEF Programme Committee

8.Women For Women,1995,Empowerment of Women, Nairobi(1985)

Dhaka  women For Women.

9. Joshi,2004,,Women Empowerment : Myth and Reality Akhansha

Publishing   House, New Delhi

Educational Leadership Styles – Improve Leadership Styles

September 14, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

Education is the best achievement an individual can attain. It is an important aspect of human life. Thus, leadership in the aspect of education is being looked into since its success is dependent largely on how it is brought about.

Click Here to Learn How to Lead Effectively.

The educational leadership style is very important because this will answer concerns of students, educators and even the society as a whole. There are several educational leadership styles and it is important that an individual understands these types individually pertaining to the methods and what can be achieved from these styles. Some of them would try a single method and some a combination. Using this method is also one way of figuring out what works best for the organization or community.

These styles are based on the understanding that certain characteristics, such as physical energy and or social interaction play a part in the way education is imparted. The educational leadership style is meant to strengthen the performance of education leaders to bring about improvement on student’s achievement. The leadership aspect is very vital for teachers and students to improve their performance to the maximum level.

There are three types of leadership styles in education that are popularly used individually or a combination of both. They are hierarchical, transformational and facilitative style of leadership.

The hierarchical leadership style is based on the traditional method of education that lays more emphasis in top to down approach. Everything is carried out with formal authority and with the other members playing no participation in the decision making process. The administrative head is the one who carries out all the duties of a planner, supervisor, analysts and resource allocator. The transformational leadership based on concepts of working as a group. And the facilitative leadership style is somewhat similar to transformational styles. However, it is more democratic and practice interactions among members. This style promotes ideas of the group rather that an individual idea.

Click Here to Learn How to Lead Effectively.

Seven Great Management And Leadership Topics To Write About

September 13, 2007 by jeff · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Women Leader 

There is an abundance of management and leadership articles available online. And that is very good. But many of these articles are redundant, outdated or just plain boring. What are some great topics to write about? Consider these seven:

It Ends With You

“Sorry, Bob, but THEY did not allow me to give you a raise.” Many managers are guilty of blaming bad news on their higher-ups or at least they present it that way. It happens everywhere because it’s convenient and does not feel wrong. Over to you: Can you motivate a manager to ‘own it’?

Putting On An Act

Wait, in the age of transparency, putting on a show makes no sense – that will surely backfire. But putting on a temporary act of confidence might indeed be beneficial. Who wants to follow a wishy-washy leader or one who seems unsure? Yet, in our fast changing world, many managers are confronted with ambiguity. Over to you: Can you share tips for managers on how to prevent passing ambiguity on to the team?

New Definition Of Diversity

Sounds like a dry topic. But consider extending the definition of diversity to include workers with different work styles. Do we secretly discriminate against people who decide to work from home? Or moms who come to work late because they take their kids to school? What about colleagues who prefer sitting on a bouncy ball or work standing up? Over to you: How can managers foster a culture of inclusion that does not discriminate against workers with different work styles?

Myth Busters

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs explains aspects of motivation. The sandwich technique is a great way to give feedback. Annual performance reviews are highly effective. Leadership is a trait. Over to you: Can you bust these myths?

Leadership Nonsense

If you browse the web, you will find many self-proclaimed leadership experts who offer their unsolicited advice. But here’s the tricky question, over to you: As a leader, how should you deal with people who give you (unsolicited and maybe bogus) advice? What should be the online etiquette to respond (or not respond) to posts or articles promoting leadership nonsense?

Firing For Underperformance

If an employee does not meet performance standards, the manager should a) provide more training b) fire him/her on the spot or c) – over to you.

Manipulation

“Bob, if you do not clean the men’s bathroom, you are fired.”

Leading employees should never involve threatening. That sounds simple enough, but all too often, managers slip into this abusive style of asserting influence. Over to you: How can managers give authoritative orders without threatening their employees?

If you write about any of these topics, I’d love to read your work. My email address is lea [at] wdywft.com. With your permission, we may feature your post in our Useful Resources For Managers section.