I spent many a lecture in graduate school waiting for the sages to utter pearls of wisdom. It happened twice, and both times the statements were profoundly simple. Marv Weisbord spoke these words a long time ago and I remember the essence but not the exactness of what he said. I’ve added my own experience to the mix as well. (Hope it’s okay with you Marv.)
The consultant sees and names what’s missing, such that the clients find it for themselves.
The feminine way of perceiving, thinking, making meaning, and being in the world has long been missing from the halls of power. Feminine is relational, nurturing, concerned with building community, empathic, intuitive, and expands to incorporate vs. conquer the other (think pregnancy). Feminine has her shadow and masculine has one of his own. Each helps to keep the shadow of the other in check. We call it balance, the yin and yang,
I advocate passionately, cajole, humor, argue, push, and do whatever is needed to give the feminine perspective a seat, preferably three seats, at tables where important issues are considered and decided. 
In her book, Women Lead the Way, Linda Tarr-Whelan argues that when the table is comprised of 30% women the conversations change. I have seen this happen. And Jane Perdue, who was part of a fem-trio at the senior leadership table in the cable and communications industry, says three became a powerful game changer.
Why do I advocate for the feminine view – a perspective that is also within and can be presented by men? Because it’s what’s missing, and it’s been missing for several hundred years. If the masculine was missing, I’d advocate for that.
Either one alone is only half of what humanity is and can be. Together we are more than twice as much.
Gratitude to my dear colleague Marion Chapsal for insisting on interviewing me as part of our work on a top secret project. By doing so she inspired this post. She also provided the top image. Merci mon soeur. Co-labor-ate. It’s what we do.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Henry Sr., Anne Perschel. Anne Perschel said: New post (Yes missie it's about time) What's Missing from the Halls of Power? http://bit.ly/bndfnf [...]
As is typical of your writing Anne, these thoughts have a particular “sparkle”. I feel passionate about each gender learning a balanced expression of both the feminine and the masculine but until that miracle occurs, “It is not good for the man to be alone”.
And I see more in that thought than “helpmate”! I love your outlook!
Thomas, It means a great deal to have your support. To-get-her we can do this. Thanks
Anne – most honored to be mentioned and, as you surely know, am in total agreement as to what’s missing from those halls of power. In 1911 Frederick Taylor published The Principles of Scientific Management. His practices improved productivity yet dehumanized the workplace. Very few inventions from 1911 remain in practice today. So it’s time to humanize the workplace and value profits, people and principles equally. Women are uniquely positioned to bring the much needed skill sets to effect that transformation. Let’s make it so!
Jane – It is becoming so thanks to you and other wonderful smart, savvy, women and men. We are be-ing the change we seek to create. And that is very kool. So glad to be in your circle.
Anne, your Rule of 3 concept is so profound. I spent my corporate years as the only woman in many roles. Then as an exec recruiter, I brought “only women” into exec roles. We were mutants — women thinking like men, acting like men.
It wasn’t until after I got sick and left corporate America, and then later became involved as a volunteer with an amazing group of women in Los Angeles (then called Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, now named Peace Over Violence) that I experienced what the Rule of 3 (or more) can do.
I felt like the scales were dropping from my eyes as I experienced again and again the nuanced, relational, deep, compassionate, and outright brilliant out-of-the-box thinking of these women. This organization is an example of what women as a group can do, and I encourage your readers to take a look at what Patricia Gibbons and a group of dedicated and passionate women have accomplished. (Not against men, but for peace.)http://www.peaceoverviolence.com
We need a Rule of 3 campaign. The time is now.
Kat – Such a beautiful description of awakening to what’s been missing. Your phrases “I felt like the scales were dropping from my eyes,” and “Not against, but For” will travel on.
Excellent post, Anne. In advocating for women, I, too, note that it’s about bringing in what’s missing, i.e., women’s perspectives, rather than getting rid of what’s not missing, i.e., men’s perspectives. Both are necesssary and important to create a balanced, exceptional workplace (and community).
Spot on Jean. Love your minimalist way of packing a lot of meaning in a few words.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Fields Jackson, Jr, Andres Tapia. Andres Tapia said: What's Missing in the Halls of Power?: Women's Perspective http://bit.ly/aXsm56 #Diversity [...]
Hi Anne – a great reminder of
the valuable skills that women can bring to the workplace( or any other place for that matter) and the difference those skills makes to the communication balance.
Dorothy Dalton´s last post ..A case for gender related management training
Dorothy – Your comment is most appreciated. Reading it reminds me that as humans everything we do is a communication. So to your point balance in communication is critical.
“Expands to incorporate rather than conquer” is such a powerful way to distinguish the paradigm shift needed in the “halls of power”.
And I look forward to you and Marion lifting the veil on the top secret project!
Susan Mazza´s last post ..What Does Leadership Look Like
[...] I ran across a blog post today that began with this sentence: I spent many a lecture in graduate school waiting for the sages to utter pearls of wisdom. It happen… [...]
I highly recommend you read this paper by Peggy McIntosh: “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack”. (http://www.uakron.edu/centers/conflict/docs/whitepriv.pdf) Ms. McIntosh suggests that there is power that must be given up and that before it can be given up it must be acknowledged. The things she suggests relate to white privilege seem to me to relate to male privilege as well.
Thanks Paul – Sounds like a good read for an airplane trip and I have one coming up tomorrow.
Love to be the muse to such a gifted & wise woman, advocate of the Feminine view.
I have been away from my own blog too long because of an unexpected (and welcome!) amount of business travels. I miss it!
Fortunately, Anne’s relentless energy and dedication kept me on track via long skype conversations and emails.
Since I couldn’t find the time and focus to write, I chose to interview her.
Only a sparkle of fire…and Anne did all the rest.
This post is the first of a long series where we will foster both masculine and feminine initiatives in Leadership and raise above gender, ages, cultures and skin colors differences!
Happy to see this beautiful picture shared on your blog.
It truly represents the heart of our mission!
In order to take that leap on the verge of the new cliff, we need to hold each other’s hands and leap in faith, now.
Our parachute will be a beautiful patchwork made out of our courage, passion, creativity and ability to collaborate.
Imagine if only half of the parachute opened?
Oh lala!
We are working to restore the missing part, the beautiful tapestry with the missing colors and strong threads, the creative power, the empathy, the connectivity, the kindness and the wilderness too!
I am so proud to be part of that movement, starting in each one of us, honoring both the feminine and the masculine vital forces.
I am also very touched by the number and quality of the comments.
Thank you all.
marion Chapsal´s last post ..Empowering Women- Brussels Workshops
Marion – I am so grateful to have you as a partner in this very important restoration project. You always bring a creative playful spirit such that working with you feels like dancing on clouds, clouds of substance that will change the landscape beneath them.
[...] and I think there may have been one or two replies or DMs. Recently, Bret referenced my post What’s Missing from the Halls of Power in his post – Discover Your Own Wisdom. I was highly flattered when I received the [...]
[...] What’s Missing from the Halls of Power, my contribution, argues that half of humanity does not, cannot and should not be expected to have all the talent needed to lead all of humanity. The Rule of 3 begins to make the needed changes to access the rull range of human talents and abilities. Find the full length article here. [...]