Unlocking the Missing Piece to Women’s Advancement into Higher Leadership Positions – by Susan Colantuono
In her enlightening TED Talk, “The Career Advice You Probably Didn’t Get,” Susan Colantuono delves into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of career development: the importance of understanding and mastering business, strategic, and financial acumen for aspiring leaders, particularly women.
Colantuono challenges the conventional wisdom that suggests women need to improve their “soft skills” to advance in leadership roles. Instead, she argues that focusing solely on these skills may inadvertently hinder women’s progress in climbing the corporate ladder.
Colantuono presents a three-part framework that outlines the essential components necessary for successful leadership advancement: technical skills, critical thinking skills, and leadership skills.
While technical skills and leadership skills are commonly acknowledged as essential, Colantuono highlights critical thinking skills—specifically business, strategic, and financial acumen—as the often-missing piece in the career advice puzzle.
Drawing on extensive research and real-world examples, Colantuono illustrates how mastering business, strategic, and financial acumen can empower individuals, particularly women, to make meaningful contributions and excel in leadership positions. Unfortunately, these are often not taught to middle management women to guide them into higher leadership positions – as they are taught to men.
She emphasizes the need for organizations to provide targeted development opportunities that address these skill gaps and enable aspiring leaders to navigate complex business challenges effectively.
Colantuono’s TED Talk serves as a wake-up call to individuals and organizations alike, urging them to reevaluate traditional career development strategies and prioritize the acquisition of business-critical skills.
By embracing a more comprehensive approach to leadership development—one that encompasses technical expertise, critical thinking abilities, and strategic insight—organizations can foster a diverse pipeline of talented leaders equipped to drive innovation, growth, and success in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.
Why Women don’t Advance as Men from Middle Management Positions into Higher Positions of Leadership
Let’s sum up Susan Calantuono’s main points in this insightful video:
1. The Missing Piece: Colantuono challenges the notion that focusing solely on “soft skills” is enough for women to advance in leadership roles.
2. Three-Part Framework: She presents a framework comprising technical skills, critical thinking skills, and leadership skills as essential components for leadership advancement.
3. Critical Thinking Skills: Colantuono highlights business, strategic, and financial acumen as crucial yet often overlooked when mentoring women (focusing instead on soft skills) – although these skills are necessary for effective leadership.
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4. Research and Examples: She supports her arguments with research findings and real-world examples to illustrate the importance of mastering critical thinking skills for career success.
5. Organizational Support: Colantuono emphasizes the need for organizations to provide targeted development opportunities to address skill gaps and empower aspiring leaders, particularly women.
6. Call to Action: Her talk serves as a call to action for individuals and organizations to reevaluate traditional career development strategies and prioritize the acquisition of business-critical skills.
Overall, Colantuono’s TED Talk urges a shift in focus towards a more comprehensive approach to leadership development, emphasizing the transformative potential of mastering critical thinking skills for career advancement – which is often not given to women.
Watching this TedTalk it becomes clear – what we may not be aware of – women and men are mentored completely differently, and yes – probably without anybody giving it much thought. With Colantuono’s presentation, there are no excuses for not being aware of this difference and taking steps to avoid unintended biases.
In brief, this TedTalk, “The career advice you probably didn’t get” by Susan Colantuono offers invaluable insights and actionable strategies for individuals aspiring to leadership roles and organizations committed to fostering inclusive and effective leadership development initiatives.
It challenges outdated stereotypes and underscores the transformative potential of equipping aspiring leaders, particularly women, with the essential skills needed to thrive in the modern workplace.
