Are Men and Boys Falling Behind?

I recently attended a well-known lecture series featuring Richard Reeves who masterfully addressed the question "Are men and boys falling behind?" This, presumably in the wake of much attention given to women and girls over the last decades. The short answer is yes! And...women still have a long way to go. 

We absolutely need more representation of men in fields Reeves refers to as the "HEAL sector" which includes professions in healthcare, education, administration and literacy. And..we still need more women in leadership roles everywhere. 

I've been practicing Human Resources for many years - decades at this point. I've been a student of organizational behavior and human dynamics. One thing I know for sure is that representation matters. Not because it's the right thing to do, or the politically correct (or incorrect) thing to do, but because when men and women and people with very different lived experiences work effectively together, the end result is better - for the business, the consumer, the board of directors, investors, regulators, and other key stakeholders. 

It is not enough to have one woman, one person of color, or one man in the room, at the table, or included in strategic meetings, because one voice among many is rarely effective. It is when multiple perspectives are granted attention, and reasonable debate is encouraged, that the magic happens. 

Some of the best leaders I've served over the years are not the ones who think about it when recommendations of inclusion are raised. The best leaders are the ones who do something about it. 

Cheers! to the leaders who have what it takes to lead in the 21st century.