Clues that appear in groups of three capture my attention, as they often foretell an emerging pattern.
What was a possible future trend is about to show up as an undeniable reality.
This week the following clues announced themselves.
1. The host of a radio sends an email to schedule an interview about NOW Leadership. We’ve met before, but his email includes an introduction. It reads:
“The show is hosted by author, business expert, and husband to Michigan’s Governor Granholm, Dan Mulhern and airs across the entire state of Michigan on The Michigan Talk Network.
This marks the first time, in my experience, a professional man chooses to introduce himself as “the husband of……” before mentioning his own name.
In case you’re interested, the program airs Saturday March 26 from 7am-9am EST. You can find it under the radio corner tab at www.danmulhern.com.
2. Four professional women meet for lunch in New York City. One member of our party shares that she and her husband decided years ago he would be the stay-at-home with their four children, while she pursued and achieved a high powered career in the financial industry.
3. I receive a copy of a Financial Times (UK) article by Lucy Kellaway who discovered that of the top 50 women global CEOs only one is married to a man who carries the scent or the role of an “alpha male.” Here’s an excerpt from the article.
Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi and the world’s most powerful businesswoman, is married to a man who quit his job and became a consultant to fit in with his wife and children. Ditto with Irene Rosenfeld at Kraft, whose husband decided to be self-employed 20 years ago to help her. Ditto with Ursula Burns at Xerox.
What Does the Future Hold?
Our roles as men and women are turning upside down and inside out.
The wave has not reached our shores but if you look towards the horizon you can see it approaching. The tipping point, where it unfolds and comes crashing forward, is not far behind.
These 50 women and men, my colleague in New York and her husband, along with many others are at the forefront. They are setting a tone for and leading us to a new era. It will change your business and the workforce.
Are You Ready?
Are you and your company preparing NOW?
Are you asking the right questions, setting the right policies, changing as needed?
Are you prepared for your new customers, the companies these women lead? Do you know what they want and need; how they think; and how they make business decisions?
No?
Better get started.
NOW!
Anne, here’s another possible “clue”: my husband volunteered, back in the 70′s, to stay home and take care of home and children, although we never had the children. Now we’re both 62. He has ramped down his consulting business and declared himself “semi-retired” while I’m just hitting my stride. I wonder if others are experiencing the same phenomenon?
Mary Wilson´s last post ..Guest Post for Elegant Leadership
Mary – thank you for leaving yet another clue. I hope others will let us know what they are seeing. My husband would also like to retire, so I will be withholding your comment from him.
My husband also quit his job many years ago to support me in my business. Although we think of it now as ‘our’ business there is no doubt that he does all the grunt work that frees me to be the face and name of the business. I don’t think he feels in any way diminished because he knows how much I lean on him for support. He has definitely reached the point where he can laugh about the mail addressed to Mr. Laura Hunter.
Thank you for commenting Laura. Just today, I talked with another couple living outside traditional role boundaries who describe the experience as challenging, scary, liberating and exciting. Please than your husband for his contribution to these changes and for the laugh.
Smiling because of all these clues, I’m feeling like Geronimo Stilton Detective (it’s an Italian cartoon character and the secret reason why I also chose this name!!!)
Ok, great great article which I will feature just in a couple of minutes on the Spring Festival for #NOWLeadership.
My own clue:
Yesterday, I got my interview with @NCYW (no country for young women) published. I metion how grateful I am for my husband having been there, sole provider, 300% when the kids were babies and how now, he wishes he could shift and enjoy domestic bliss while I would develop my consultancy business. He’s a great cook, wonderful with the children and he’s had his sahre of Corporate Gigs.
If you’re curious, the article is here http://bit.ly/glxC9W
One remark about this “role reversal” trend…I believe it’s not so much about taking the other’s role.
It’s about developing flexibility about these roles and not forgetting to have fun while doing it.
Taking turns at playing these different “roles”, giving each other the permission to explore what is traditionally viewed as masculine or feminine.
And to do it from our deepest values, from our identity and own sense of self, with integrity and respect for the other.
marion chapsal´s last post ..China’s Dragon Lady
Marion, as always, it is a sheer delight to read your comments. You have such a wonderful and unique way of integrating play in all that you do and say, without losing the seriousness of the points you make.
I agree that being flexible is important and that some couples move back and forth between roles. In some cases, however, it is clear role reversal. Just this morning I spoke with another woman who is married and has two children. She is the career professional, and her husband is the stay at home parent and partner. She has little flexibility, given her travel and role, to do any of the home making parts of their life. He, given his responsibilities, has not time to pursue professional goals, nor does he want to.
[...] Perschell, with The Future: Upside Down & Inside Out is asking us “Are you ready?” “Our roles as men and women are turning upside down [...]
Thanks for sending me this. I didn’t respond sooner because I was at Kripalu all this week learning how to rewire my brain. I’m sure that’s a clue about something.
All the clues were interesting, especially the radio one. I hope you’re right that these clues are suggestive of us nearing a tipping point. It’s sounding good! Hugs to you, Cherry
Cherry Woodburn´s last post ..Dear Younger Self- I Apologize For My Impatience
[...] Leaders can prepare for the future when they see emerging waves before they hit the shore. But where are those secret clues? Anne Perschel tells you the answer in The Future: All Upside Down & Inside Out [...]