Gender-based stereotypes are still prevalent in the workplace. Male managers often pal around with male subordinates, discussing fantasy football and weekend golf outings, but keep discussions with women strictly work-related. At the same time, female managers tend to open up more with other women in the organization, believing men “just don’t understand.”
But as a manager, have you tried to incorporate the opposite sex into the world you think is only for your gender?John Coffey, president of Winning Careers, worked as a manufacturing manager for 25 years and recalls a situation that epitomizes unfair stereotypes between genders.
Managers at a local factory were searching for qualified candidates to fill positions historically held by males. When women were interviewed and subsequently hired for these positions, the men who were doing the jobs resisted the change, making comments about how there was no way a woman could possibly do the job, the work was too physically demanding and women just didn’t have the mechanical abilities. If you have choices that wound be helpful.