Teryl @ Work

Or to be more specific, is it having a real effect on the workplace?   As a concept, it’s been around for 30 years.   Every time I mention it, though, I have to explain what it is! Personal Case Study Some years ago I was the president of a mostly male IT Association.  (I believe I am still the only female president they have had since 1934).  We needed to hire a new Executive Director.   As a member of the ManCo, we interviewed a number of candidates, shortlisted them to three (two men, one woman) and conducted final interviews. Two were particularly strong (one man, one woman).   I liked both, but felt the male candidate was a better fit for the position.   My three male colleagues disagreed, and we hired the woman. At our next Executive meeting, we announced the appointment, to a flurry of comments and jokes that, of course we hired the female candidate, Teryl was on the selection panel! We, equally light hea...

"Will you be mom?" was a frequent request in my early boardroom days.   Not to mention, "will you take the notes?" Not sure why, but while the notes just bothered me a little, the tea request drove me crazy. The advent of coffee machines and tablets has largely done away with those two, but my discussions with many women who are sitting on boards and excos today tells me that there is still a way to go for women to feel fully included. Gender jokes, swearing and male exclusive activities are some of the not so subtle ways that women mention.   Should you laugh at the jokes, accept the c word as a standard and take up deep sea fishing? And if you don't, should you feel guilty about curbing their natural behaviour when you are around, which you are worried they will use as an excuse for further exclusion? In other words, they are much more relaxed and themselves when you are not there, so do you accept things that make you uncomfortable in order to fit i...