Thursday, August 27, 2009

Lead Like a Girl...Use Social Media to Organize a Movement!

BV Thinks Pink! Dee Dee James, center, stands with dozens of pink-clad Buckeye Valley High School students in the school’s cafeteria. BVHS students organized on the Internet to wear pink in support of James, a school secretary who is fighting breast cancer. (From The Delaware Gazette, 8/27/09)

Perhaps it's because I've gotten about 3 hours of sleep for the last few nights. Perhaps it's because the woman featured in this article is a close family friend. Or perhaps it's because the kids that organized this are just so friggin' cool! Whatever the case, this article made me boo-hoo cry when I read it this morning: http://www.delgazette.com/local.asp?story=1

We often complain about "the younger generation" and they way they are constantly tied to their cell phones and facebook pages. The way they don't listen. We wonder if they'll ever be able to have quote, unquote "normal" relationships because even though they are whizzes with electronics and social media tools, they fall short when it comes to face to face interactions. And what's with the short attention span and constant need to share with the world what they're doing at this very moment? Weird.

Or is it?

Some people may not get the younger generation and wonder how they turned out this way...but they have complaints about "the older generation" too! Why can't you just let them work when there's stuff to do and enjoy life the rest of the time? Why can't you deal with change a little better? After all, there's new technology coming out every day...why can't you give up that old school cell phone for an iPhone. Oh, and learn to use facebook while you're at it...millions of other people figure it out every day. Why can't you just accept it's the new way to communicate?

This article reminds me that it's not the generation gap or changing technology that keeps us from connecting, it's our own limiting beliefs. And why would we want to stop ourselves from connecting the way they did in this little town? A student led, mini-fashion revolution spread to the staff & faculty and ended up making the first day of school one I'm sure my friend DeeDee will never forget. Imagine coming back from a summer of painful surgery & chemotherapy to a sea of pink clad staff & students saying, "we love you and support you" on the first day of school. That may be the best medicine anyone could get!

So whoever you are, young or old, ask yourself this today: How can I organize a mini-movement to show people in my life who could use a lift that there's a whole world of people out there thinking about them?

Got one? Good! Whether you call one friend and offer support or enlist the masses via your tweets today, bring the spirit of BV High School to your life and the lives of those around you. You'll be glad you did!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Lead Like a Girl by Letting Go of Your Stereotypes

Coupons...not just for girls anymore!


I seem to spend a lot of my time these days looking for subtle (or not so subtle) differences between the way men and women to things. Once I find a difference, I start thinking about it and building an essay, list or scenario about how that difference translates into leadership styles.

The other day I was clipping coupons and thought to myself, “Aha! Coupons…there’s something a guy would never do! And it must point to some difference in the way men & women handle money. Yes…I’ll look for some stats on that.”

So the seed of my idea was planted. Not long after, I discovered links to a few articles and books about women and finances. Perfect! This was coming together too easily!

Until my next trip to the local Target.

I was helping a friend of mine decorate for a big event she’d been hired to put on. The night before, I’d been up at her place until the wee hours of the morning ironing stitch witchery along the uneven cuts on some fabric so we could fashion table runners for the event’s check-in table. Now I was at Target buying strings of white lights (for ambiance) before I headed over to meet her at the venue.

Right in front of me was a young man with a baby. He appeared to be a single dad (no wedding ring). He also appeared to be doing a fabulous job managing his shopping and keeping the baby entertained. I watched as he placed his items on the belt and the clerk rang each one up. When she finished and told the man his total he said, “Actually, I have these,” as he handed her a small stack of coupons.

Eh? What was this guy doing?! In that moment a million things ran through my head:
--Is this guy serious?
--What self respecting dude uses coupons?
--Where did he get those…because I could really use a few of them?
--You just blew my stereotype. Now what am I going to write about?

A little perplexed but still certain men & women really ARE different, I continued on to the event venue to meet my friend. When I got there, she was in full party planning mode and the decorations were flying. She’d give an order and 3 or 4 guys would carry it out. In essence, she was the brain, they were the brawn!

After awhile, we’d finished the heavy lifting and were down to the little details. My friend pulled out the table runners just as the guy who’d been in charge of decorations the previous year came into the building. He headed over to our table and we all started chatting. At one point, I mentioned my late night, stitch witchery, and never wanting to see an iron again. And then this guy says, “Did you ever consider using pinking shears?”

Eh? Again…for the second time that day…a guy left me a bit speechless. Pinking shears? Since when do guys mess around with pinking shears? And what was he talking about?

“Yeah,” he continued (probably because my friend and I were staring at him a bit dumbfounded), “they’re great for doing table runners. The uneven edge hides any frayed spots or places you didn’t cut exactly straight. Saves a lot of time.”

Yep. Speechless.

We continued chatting with the man who actually knew tons about event planning & may have even given us some cooking tips…I was too shell shocked at that point to take any more in.

I know what you’re thinking. There are lots of men who clip coupons and can dish out decorating tips…and they’re all gay. Not true. Both of the guys I’d encountered were brawny, manly types. They COMPLETELY shattered the stereotype I’d been building in my head since deciding to write about coupon clipping.

Ever since that day, I’m a little bit more careful before rushing to categorize people. And you know what…I’ve been pretty surprised at some of the things I’ve learned.

Stereotypes definitely exist for a reason. In many cases, they’re totally true and can certainly provide us with clues on how to approach, interact with, and lead people. But very rarely do they tell the WHOLE story.

So let yourself be shocked by what the people in your life know, do, & enjoy. Yes, even the men. Ask them to share something surprising about themselves with you. And revel in the sameness you discover the two of you share!

Follow 'Lead Like a Girl' on Facebook!

Lead Like a Girl on Facebook