Women and IT
8th March is International Womens Day, and every year, someone reminds me of that fact, and asks why I have not been promoting it. Particularly this year, as it celebrated its 100th year. And yesterday, as usual, I forgot it, until someone reminded me.
Why do I not promote International Womens Day? Well, I like to think its because I am too busy being an ‘international woman’ to remember that it is happening. This made me think about the role of women in IT Service Management, and IT generally.
I am not a great believer in positive discrimination for women in the workplace, which may come as surprise for those who know me. I have always believed that the workplace should be entirely based on the capability of the person to perform the task in hand, and positive discrimination doesn’t always put the best person forward. My father (a retired Canon in the Church of England) was always strongly in favour of allowing women into the Ministry, but his problem was that the women who put themselves forward were not always the ‘right people’ for the job. So his objection was not based on the gender bias, but on the individual – I follow my fathers thinking in this.
So International Womens Day leaves me with very mixed feelings. Yes, we should promote and be proud of the capability of women in the world – but there is considerably less fuss made of International Mens Day (19th November). Positive discrimination makes me uncomfortable. I started working in IT over 25 years ago, when IT departments were overwhelmingly male and the role of the women was more involved with administration of the rota, and maintenance of the coffee supplies than administration of the systems and maintenance of the equipment. I like to think that my success in the industry has been based on the recognition of my capability and skills, and not as a result of being a ‘female representative’ to meet a required quota to show equality. Why should I need to have a positive spin put on my capability?
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It is time to stop thinking about Men vs Women and consider who is the right person for the job, and take a view of true equality.
So how do we decide who is the right person for the job? Personality traits do matter – you need a detail person for the roles in Service Asset and Configuration Management, is this gender specific? Empathy and a broad spectrum approach to knowledge are required by Service Desk staff, is this gender specific? Should gender be a consideration?
I have no answers to the issue of fewer women than men in the IT arena. But it is true there are fewer women than men. A recent report – Arras People – The 2011 Project Management Benchmark Report (http://www.arraspeople.co.uk/project-and-programme-management-resources/the-project-management-benchmark-report-from-arras-people-2011/) has identified that women are often marginalised leading smaller, cheaper projects. The percentage of women project managers is under 30%.
The number of women in IT has increased in my career, the recognition of the ability of women to carry out any role in IT has improved. The question of whether or not women want to be in the IT industry has become less of an issue, as ‘everyone is in IT’ these days! Its hard to avoid it. I meet CIOs who are women, I meet Senior IT managers who are women and I meet Service Desk analysts who are women.
The percentages of women in IT reached a peak in the late nineties, but are now decreasing. Research has yet to identify why this drop is happening, but there are many studies which look at the impact of IT education in schools. Is it still the perception that women will make themselves unavailable by having a family? Our governments are addressing the issues of parental leave, so that equality of child care is recognised as the responsibility of both men and women.
The question I want to ask is what impact does it have on our IT departments that there are fewer women than men? Does the old style combative approach to silos within IT, first line battling with second line, second line battling with third, and all brought together against the project teams, does this approach come from excessive testosterone? Would we be more inclusive with a higher level of oestrogen in our teams?
Its an interesting debate, and I find it impossible to tackle in an article. But I throw the question out to you all – no doubt a majority male readership – are our workplaces better or worse for the exclusion of women?
A final thought – that shakes me a little – a while ago the cry went out from the ITSM Portal publication for more women columnists – am I there as a result of positive discrimination after all?
First published ITSM Portal http://www.itsmportal.com/columns/women-and-it
Satisfy Women Sexually
Are you working the wrong muscles to grab women’s attention?
Why do most men work out? That’s easy – to look and feel powerful! This is what it means to be a man. A strong physical presence is a symbol of masculinity, and one that most guys feel is a big part of what makes them attractive to women. And they’re right, because many women do like a physically strong male.
But most women are much more powerfully influenced by more subtle aspects of masculinity. A man’s inner strength shows in how he carries himself because of what he knows he can do. How many times have we seen average looking, or even below average looking guys with really hot women? What do they have that the muscle guys don’t. In a word, confidence.
Real power over women
A man’s confidence is the real source of his attractiveness to women. Remember the average looking guys pulling women that are way out of their league! What makes women want these guys is all about sexual power, that basic, primal need in all things to reproduce, second only to survival.
Women want men with raw sexual power,
a strong, independent figure that is the essence of masculinity!
Where do most of these guys get their sexual confidence from? One of the most popular methods right now is through penis enlargement. Many men choose to increase their penis size and performance, knowing that erection size and hardness both contribute to the sexual power that women desire.
Knowing your penis can hit the spots inside her that other men can’t can do wonders for your sexual confidence. There’s nothing like total confidence in your ability to totally satisfy a woman sexually. It makes a man feel like a king, and women can sense it.
Sexual confidence has to be sensed rather than seen. The ability to please women sexually is not something you can just talk about. It has to come from you knowing you’ve got what it takes, beyond any shadow of doubt. If you know you’ve got it, she will too, even if it’s totally subconscious. This is the strongest pull you can have on a woman. And the best part is you don’t have to say a thing, it just flows out of you!
Seen as compensating
Remember that jerk at the bar who pulls all the hottest women in the place, leaving you wondering how he does it? He knows that he can satisfy women, and his confidence shows it in everything he does and says.
Women know when a man feels strong, despite his looks,
and that’s what they want!
Women know the difference between real confidence and affected confidence. Big muscles and a big car can work against you with some women, not because they don’t like the strength these things convey, but because of – what’s being covered up -.
Many women tease guys behind their backs, giggling to themselves that he – probably doesn’t measure up -. Ladies, you KNOW you?ve done this before! Don?t get caught in the trap of – covering up -. Get to the root of the problem, put the effort where it?ll give you the biggest bang, and start feeling powerful.
The ProExtender System
Building penis size and performance is not as difficult as it may have been in years past. Medical science now makes it possible for the average man to grow to well above average if he so chooses.
The ProExtender System is centered on the worlds leading medically tested and approved penis enlargement device. Thousands of men from all over the world have used it successfully, both with and without the help of their physician. But the System offers more than just the device. In addition, the system also gives you:
TWO top-rated sexual enhancement supplements, and
The worlds leading collection of penis enlargement exercises
This system gives you FOUR different avenues to increase penis size and performance. You get the best of each category all in one, and the results speak for themselves (see www.ProExtenderSystem.com for details).
Results mean confidence
When you start using the ProExtender System you’ll see results in the first couple weeks, with increasing results as time goes on. This is important – when you begin seeing results, get excited! The excitement you feel watching your member grow will translate into increased confidence – a feeling you carry with you, and woman can feel it.
Timberland Steel Toe Women’s Work Boots
When looking for women’s shoes and boots there are many differing kinds to select from. Though steel toe boots are not generally associated with women they are becoming popular and now brand names like Timberland are catering for the female market. This kind of work boots are not just practical but are also really stylish as well. They might be worn for their purpose of work or as a amazing fashion item for going out in.
The timberland brand has been a well-liked product since 1973 and the actual footwear is wonderful for a number of different uses. Men and women make use of the work boots for mountaineering, hiking as well as working in they’re also ideal for fashion wear as well. The people that wear timberland boots understand fantastic quality and workmanship and will often replace an existing pair of boots with a second set because they want continuing comfort along with a brand they are able to count on. Timberland shoes or boots are built to last and often will survive most things, they are perfect for just about all conditions and will still be comfortable.
There are two sets of people that purchase the timberland brand these are people who need a high quality, tough work boot for them in order to wear in all conditions. You also have individuals who are able to realize an incredible fashion item; they will be worn out and hardly ever will come into contact with any dirt or even hard work. Timberland have accepted it has an expanded market and also have amplified their range and even though the brand remains exactly the same the selection is unbelievable. You can purchase them in a number of different coloration’s this includes pink, red, orange and good old classic black.
There tend to be more and more women looking to wear these kinds of fantastic boots, they discover they are comfortable sensible and look very good with many outfits. You can find the shoes or boots in many different colors and styles which can make them excellent to complement different outfits and occasions. You can purchase them from a Timberland store or online that may be becoming the fastest way of getting your timberland shoes or boots, specifically if you prefer a specific style or design. The ladies boots are extremely unique and no other company have developed work boots for women which makes them much more unique. If you actually want them to work in then they will probably still make you look good even when you are working. You will no longer need to wear men’s boots due to the fact that’s all you had to choose from.
Whichever design of timberland work boots you choose and for regardless of what purpose you’re looking for them you will know that you are purchasing the best. These are boots that will last and you only have to change them once you get a new outfit to wear. They’re so economical that one could even own more than one set to make your wardrobe complete. You will be very happy with your purchases then when you, your spouse as well as your children can pick their own timberland boots you know that everybody has comfortable foot wear.
It’s Just Sex: a New Breed of Women
There seems to be a new trend among women in the realm of sex and relationships. Traditionally men have been the ones with the ability to have sex indiscriminately with little more thought put into it other than their own pleasure. However, more and more I am meeting women with a clear emotional detachment towards sex.
OK, once all the men stop jumping up and down and high fiveing each other, take a moment and really think about what this means. While it may look like someone has just opened a new guilt free sex buffet, a shift in social conforms of this kind dramatically changes sexual dynamics.
Historically women have been notorious for placing emotional value on sex. The fastest way into her pants used to be through her heart, and while men have had to deal with the occasional clinger or a brief pang of guilt over breaking a heart, this tendency was a great source of control over women.
The act of “making love” gave the man direct access to a woman’s heart. This kind of power allowed men to get away with a lot of crap. A guy could cheat, get caught and then get off the hook by “making love” and re-affirming the connection. Screw up by having sex and then fix it by having more sex… sweet deal!
Remove the emotional attachment and men have no real control. They are left to stand on only the quality of their sexual performance. Where before, women would stick around out of emotional attachment and only stray when her emotional needs could be met somewhere else. Now she could stray based on her sexual urges alone.
However, a woman’s emotional detachment does not mean that she is putting out more. In fact, without their hearts clouding their judgment they are less susceptible to the old tricks. And because they are thinking only of their own immediate physical satisfaction, they are actually more selective, judging men by a whole new set of rules.
This new set of rules even further changes the dynamic. No longer is a woman content to sit at the bar waiting to be approached. She must actively go hunting for a man that meets her criteria. Essentially the line between predator and prey is starting to fade dropping men a notch on the sexual food chain.
Men have always fantasized about a non-committal woman; a woman that can just enjoy sex and move on. I do not think however most men are ready for it. Being so easily replaced on a physical urge and waking up finding that she snuck out in the middle of the night, and then is going to avoid your calls for a week is going to take some getting used to.
Is this an evolution of women trying to conform to what men have said they wanted? In essence, a -careful what you wish for- scenario. Perhaps this the precursory shift back to a matriarchal society where women hold the reins and men are left begging.
Maybe it is just simply, what goes around comes around.
The Three Most Important Leadership Qualities for Small Business
If cash flow is the lifeblood of a business, then effective business leadership has to be the oxygen. Without it, a company will shrivel up and die.
The best time to start laying the foundation for the type of leadership that will grow your company for many years to come is while you’re small.
How? Through values based on vision, courage, and integrity. Out of all the necessary leadership qualities, these three are the most critical to the growth and success of your organization.
Vision
A clearly defined company vision is one of the most critical elements in any small business, but is also one of the most neglected.
But most small businesses that become successful small businesses (and sometimes big businesses) have one thing in common: Vision.
Your company vision defines who you are as a company, your core values, and your future aspirations. It truly is your “reason for being.”
Your vision should also reflect your company’s unique strengths. What is it about your company that is different than your competitor, or other companies in general?
Additionally, having a clear, strong vision motivates, inspires, and empowers your employees. A vision that starts at the top and threads through the organization is an excellent loyalty and retention tool because employees like being part of a company that knows where it’s going and how to get there. Remember, too, that your employees – more than anyone else – will be the driving forces behind your vision. They will be the ones to bring your vision to fruition. They need you to a) have a strong vision, and b) share it with them on a regular basis.
It isn’t enough to have a vision statement hanging on your break room wall. It needs to be a foundational part of your business. In fact, your vision needs be the basis for all your business decisions.
The best small businesses have a clear-cut vision – a vision that effectively drives their companies toward success. If your small business doesn’t have one, you really should begin developing one. Today.
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Courage
Great business leaders are courageous leaders.
Let’s face it, it takes guts to start a small business. It takes guts to step out in the first place, and even more guts to take the necessary risks to step up to the next level.
But beyond having the courage to take risks, courage leadership means being able to make tough decisions and take difficult actions - doing what needs to be done in spite of the consequences, both personal and professional. And courage in the face of fear is one of the hardest things to do as a business leader.
It isn’t easy to turn down a client because his values are the complete opposite of yours. It’s hard to confront an employee who’s been caught with his hand in the till, or a receptionist who lives to gossip. It’s difficult to say no to a potentially lucrative business deal because it might be a bit shady. Or any number of the thousands of issues business leaders face daily. However, to leading an organization with courage is one of the most effective
When it comes to courage, we tend to think that it’s a quality we need to exhibit as needed. In truth, courage leadership needs to be a daily demonstration – walk in courage and you will inspire those around you to walk in courage as well. Just think what would happen if we all had the courage to act on our convictions!
There are no shortcuts to courageous leadership. You either do, or you don’t. There is no sometimes. And to start you on your journey, here are a few helpful tips:
Start being deliberately courageous in the decisions you make regarding growth, risk, and day-to-day operations. The more you practice courage the more courageous you will become.
Resolve to never again “take the easy road.” Have a clear understanding of your beliefs and core values, so when situations come up, you know where you stand.
Accept personal responsibility for the decisions you make, and encourage those around you to do the same.
Make sure the people you hire and promote are also courageous people. Surround yourself with people of like mind and you’ll discover what a powerhouse organization you can become.
Don’t compromise. Again, being consistently courageous is just as important as the quality itself.
Having courage isn’t always the easiest way to go, but it is the best way. With courage, we can accomplish anything.
Integrity
Most of you have probably met someone in business who always does the right thing, regardless of the cost. I am blessed to have known several, and the experiences have made me a better individual from both a personal and professional perspective.
Doing the right thing regardless of the consequences is at the heart of business leadership. When faced with a decision, people of integrity will always do what is right. And people of integrity tend to build businesses of integrity.
So why does it matter that we have integrity in our business dealings? There is an unbreakable connection between integrity and trust. In most peoples’ minds, they go hand-in-hand. When our employees perceive us to have integrity, they trust us to treat them respectfully and reasonably. Likewise, when our customers and clients look at us as a company based on integrity, they trust us to be honest, to give them a good product, and to keep our word.
Think about it…given the choice, wouldn’t you prefer to work for and deal with a company you knew had integrity? I know I would!
Vision…courage…integrity. These are three transformational leadership qualities that will turn your small business into a business powerhouse.
Tips to Get a Girlfriend Fast – 3 Ways to Make You More Attractive to Women Right Now
It’s kind of hard to make yourself more attractive to women when you are not quite sure exactly what it is that attracts women. The unfortunate thing is, most men are kind of left in the dark when it comes to this, so when they want to make themselves more attractive to women, they get stuck. They are not sure what they should be doing. If this is how you feel, then keep reading.
You are about to discover 3 ways to make yourself more attractive to women right now. One thing to keep in mind is, to never let yourself get too rigid in your approach to attracting a woman. While there are many universal things that women find attractive, each women IS going to be a little different from the next.
Here are 3 ways to make you more attractive to women right now:
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1. Get your appearance the best it can be.
While you don’t have to look like a male model to attract women, you should at least give yourself a fighting chance and look your best. For most women, the bum look will not cut it. So, go out, get a hair cut, try to wear the best clothes that you do have. Appearance is not a make or break factor all of the time, but we all know the truth. A woman will pay more attention to a guy that is at least trying to look good.
2. Don’t be afraid to approach and talk to women.
This is one really big fear that holds most guys back from really having the kind of success with women that they crave. Women are conditioned to wait for the guy to make the move, and most women stay this way. Sure, I have been out and had women that have approached me, but more often than not, the move is up to YOU. Women usually are not the cold type that are going to immediately make you feel bad for approaching them, so don’t even give it too much thought.
3. Don’t become focused on one woman too soon.
I’ve seen this happen to a lot of guys. They meet a woman, they think she is great, and the next thing you know, they are stuck on her. They talk about her all of the time, and she becomes all that they think about. You need to be more relaxed and not become the kind of instant relationship guy that most men are. You will find that women are much more attracted to you when you don’t get all clingy and needy too soon.
Handsome Long-sleeve T-shirts for OL Leaders
Profession world may be the exclusive place for stylish application. In case that you would like to become the particular and personalised office lady, you must know certain guides to get mature and calm by gown. By doing and that means you could win the respect out of your workers. Right here we could discuss about the assortment means for long-sleeve shirts. Inside the cutting-edge office, it is proper and professional to utilize the dress of basic trousers with profession shirt.Nobody could forget the charm of casual shirts. Silk shirt may be elegant for its materials and sound crafts. Owning sound feeling by touching, it could illustrate the mature kind of women even without excessive decoration. Simple-design shirt with ruffles silk might embellish your body.
The key stage is to test your flavor for shirt fashion. Even the simple shift could enable you to from monotonic feeling by this kind of applique with distinct layout design.Numerous office ladies might prefer short sleeve shirts The function is within the limited spaces among bottoms. Therefore the suite shirt could safeguard our body nicely. Remember wearing the string of pendant to get noticed the personal disposition in the low-key emotion.Lace shirt with long-style trousers could comprise sufficient girl feeling. Essentially, black shirt would be with difficult disposition for female leader. So we may use fascinating lace to make the environment a bit softer. Nevertheless, we may not utilize lace design too much. On the other hand, it may miss the focus of fashion.In addition, not all women would choose the medium-style design. In order to rectify these design, we could utilize shirt to exchange the long trousers.
The benefit of shirt may be obvious. It may show up the fascinating legs to entice surrounding eyes.Towards the other facet, fashionable females may frequently prefer the purify feeling from white. There may be a lot mystical feeling to obtain nearer for that terrific decorative colour.Bow with waist-tightening style can be effortlessly witnessed. The style about the collar with the shirt could possibly be brimming with attributes to allow you to hide flaws around the chest. In place of standing out the chest, it might transfer the public interest to your cute waist. That might be preferred level for ladies to raise up the self-assurance.It truly is naturally that white shirt would be fabulous decoration for almost any dress. The check scarf, jacket, or belt skirt, cap-sleeve skirt could be the excellent fragrance partners for white shirt. Your style idea may be made complete use of. You may only recall to mind utilizing the distinction impact to create particular visual picture. You might get surprised through the amendment of shirts in black and white.
How Call Center is Best Platform for Women to Develop Professional Skills?
The growth of a nation entirely depends upon its population. Therefore, it is the responsibility of an individual to contribute their skills in self-development that will lead to a nation’s growth. Today, a large section of woman is seen working in call centers. It is said that the professional environment and the growth aspect are the two vital factors that attract a great percentage of women employees towards it.
In the developed nations, it is evident that there is no job discrimination for any age groups. But in the developing and under-developing nations, the involvement of women community is slowly rising and projected to reach an excellent level in the coming years. At present, most of the business giants are outsourcing the customer support services from the Asian countries. It is so because, the people over these countries are excellent speakers who can easily adapt to any international accent in no time. Especially, the women have a better understanding of this skill and therefore the BPOs of these regions are seen to source a great number of women employees.
If you make a thorough research upon BPO industry, you will find that the highest positions of the board are being occupied by women and really helping the organizations to make a rapport, exceptionally well. Women find this professional environment with a freedom to express their skills efficiently. It is because, the workforce are well-trained from an intermediate level, till she reaches a level to teach the same to the sub-ordinates. This factor inspires them to work better and enhance their skills in a global aspect. The enhancement of performance level is rewarded with good financial growth.
The call center industry engages a wide section of women from age level of 18 years to any age limit as per the company policy. With this option a student can easily be a part of an income source for a middle class family. Moreover, the unemployment ration in the developing countries has experienced a great hike with the services offered by BPO industry to the women community. The BPO industry is not only providing an international platform to the woman community but also the to the other gender to co-operate, with the possibilities of growth. It is a major platform to earn reputation and therefore your skills need to be exhibited through a professional environment that is easily possible through call centers.
Effective Leadership Styles – Amazing Leadership Styles
There are as many effective leadership styles as there are effective styles of parenting. Leadership style differs from person to person according to the tasks, team, and individual capabilities. This means that no one particular style is right for all situations, and that all types of leaders can be successful.
Click Here to Learn How to Lead Effectively.
Remember that your style as a leader will be largely influenced by two things – the culture of the organization you find yourself in; and the quality of leadership, coaching, and mentoring you experience as you move through your career.
The three main leadership styles are authoritarian leadership, participative leadership, and delegative leadership. An authoritarian leader will clearly define what the organizational needs are, as well as what should be done and how it should be done. He will make decisions on his own, and rarely allows others to help in making decisions. Participative leadership, also known as democratic leadership, allows members to participate in decision-making, with the proper guidance from the leader. In delegative leadership, however, no guidance is offered to the group members, allowing them to make decisions on their own. This style will be suitable when the group members are highly qualified and efficient.
No matter which style you choose, here are some tips that you can use to achieve effective leadership styles.
Number one: Delegate the work to the employees as a whole whenever possible. However, ensure that each of them understands the whole process and exactly what you want them to do. In order to confirm that they understand the work fully, you may ask questions or even watch them work. Number two: Share your ideas with your employees. Teach them how to achieve a successful outcome, as it is your responsibility to make the employees do the right things to accomplish tasks with success. Identify the key points when you want feedback about progress. Number three: Decide in advance in what way you want to reward the employees after they achieve the task.
Click Here to Learn How to Lead Effectively.
The Essence of Leadership by Mac Anderson
Mac Anderson is a highly successful entrepreneur that has written a book call “The Essence of Leadership.” In this book, Mac Anderson shares with readers all that he has learned in the last 30 years of what it means to be a leader and is an excellent read for anyone in a leadership role that wants to improve upon their own skill set and help those that are leading succeed.
Few people would argue that there is a right and a wrong way to being a leader. There are certain characteristics that differentiate an excellent leader from someone that is in a leadership position. Mac Anderson explains that those characteristics are personal traits that an individual lives and leads by including integrity, being ethical, loyal, persistent, and faith that lead to personal success.
It’s important that when attempting to lead people you follow this simple rule according to Mac Anderson in “The Essence of Leadership,” ” walk the walk, keep it simple and keep it real; celebrate successes; know that courage matters; keep hope alive; take responsibility; develop a ‘service attitude’; aim for the heart; and make a difference when/wherever possible.” He is a true believer in what he calls heart power. Mac Anderson stresses that if you “throw your heart over the fence the rest will follow.” Often times those in leadership roles are afraid to take a risk, they are afraid to go out on a limb, but it is out that limb that the fruit is… the opportunity.
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The Essence of Leadership also points out that integrity is not something that changes with situation; it isn’t something that will change with the blowing wind. Integrity is the “inner image of our true selves.” Mac Anderson also draws upon other wonderful quotes from some of the most incredible leaders of all time such as Henry David Thoreau who said, “Leaders are like eagles, they don’t flock together, you find them one at a time.” He stresses that in order for a leader to be successful, you have to make your team successful which means that just like a garden it needs to be cultivated, and he uses a quote by John Murphy, “Pull the weeds. Otherwise the team, just like the garden, cannot grow.”
The Essence of Leadership is a book that is meant to be read quickly and reread whenever it is needed. It doesn’t matter if you are someone that is new to the leadership position or someone that has been a leader for years. There comes a time when we all need guidance and advice, we need to reminded of the things that we already know, that a good leader is someone that rules with their heart and wants to see the team succeed. Mac Anderson has put together an inspiring read for anyone.
Please visit The Personal Development Company if you would like to learn more about The Essence of Leadership by Mac Anderson