Girls Without Limits

Girls Without Limits, Helping Girls Succeed in Relationships, Academics, Careers and Life, 2d Edition, by Lisa Hinkelman, Corwin 2021

What girls need to succeed -  and what they want -  may be totally different and quite shocking to us "helpers," parents and managers out there struggling ourselves to understand.  The author quotes data from 2017 that in fact explores why girls struggle with leadership:

       1 in 2 girls are afraid to speak their mind or disagree with others because they want to be liked

       1 in 3 girls stay away from leadership because they don't want others to think they are bossy.

It's tough to directly oppose these very emotional, personal reactions to leadership.  But we all can cite brilliant examples of female leadership - Michelle Obama and Nikki Haley, for example - both of whose public works and image work differently.  In author Lisa Hinkelman's work, it's important to study and learn from their strengths.  

Nikki Haley's business background, starting from keeping the books at age 14 for her immigrant mother's textile business, to her work as business-friendly facilitator of growth as governor of South Carolina (https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/competitiveness/article/22008051/south-carolinas-probusiness-governor-speaks-out) , proves that she found a way to achieve and execute big goals.  She is not perceived, however, as bossy or harsh.  In fact, as we reported in our series on Kent Bikes, whose CEO Arnold Kamler points proudly to his work moving and growing the company in South Carolina, his objectives could not have been achieved without the governor's personal commitment - including her cell number - to facilitating the move.  It was hard work that paid off. (https://www.industryweek.com/leadership/companies-executives/article/21965334/kent-internationals-reshoring-journey).

It makes sense, and this book is filled with real examples, to study female leaders like Nikki Haley who succeed, in contrast to the ones who didn't quite make it or the ones standing in the shadows, on thin ice, ready to fall.  We can learn from these very different female leaders and highlight them as positive examples.  HInkelman offers a useful chart targeting this question, showing how these: leaders perceived their own styles and methods:

I am...                                                                                                 I...

A consensus builder              Ethical                                     Communicate well

A risk taker                             Fair                                          Delegate

A strong communicator          Honest                                     Develop others

An analyzer                            Nice                                         Do not micromanage

Business minded                    Not afraid                                 Engage with others

Committed                              Open to criticism                      Give credit to others for successes

Collaborative                            Open to learning from mistakes Have a deep understanding of issues

Confident                                   Perceptive                              Have a strong personality

Cooperative                                Plain spoken                          Have detailed knowledge

Decision                                      Productive                              Have high standards

Demanding of self                       Results focused                     Have strength

Demanding of others                    Supportive                            Hire the best people

Focused                                        Team oriented                      Involve others in decision-making

Inclusive                                         Service oriented                     Listen well

Engaging                                                 Visionary                        

But this book covers not just leadership for women because so many decisions arise as girls mature - long before they enter the work force - body image, confidence, staying power.  The author believes it is  important to understand where a female can observe and learn from the "right" behavior. models.   "Girls need adults in their lives who will guide them, protect them, nurture them, and challenge them.  They need caring adults who recognize the pressures that they face, understand the realities of their lives, and work to ensure an equitable and just future for all girls."   

Hinkelman includes a few very powerful chapters describing specifics for dealing with social media, gender roles and even mean girls.    Being female can be complicated and dangerous, requiring alert preparation as well as awareness; the author offers several sections on how to deal with rape or sexual violence as well.

Patricia E. Moody

FORTUNE magazine  "Pioneering Woman in Mfg" 

IndustryWeek IdeaXchange Xpert

A Mill Girl at Blue Heron Journal, on-line resource for business thought-leaders and decision-makers,  patriciaemoody@gmail.com