Week 4- Theories in Action

Week 4- Theories in Action: Implicit Leadership Theory

In my Theories and Models class we spent a lot of time on trying to better understand different Implicit Leadership Theories and I think that it is easy to sit in a classroom talking about stereotypes of leaders and so on but it really hit me how much they actually apply in real life throughout the past few weeks. I was discussing with one of the female managers about all of the main general managers of the entire business group and I noticed that none of them were females. There were only regular female managers but no head female managers. I then started questioning her and asking why she thought this was. And she simply replied, “Well there has just never been one before.” I think this reflects a lot of work places that may have more traditional ways of the work place without even realizing it. I really do not think the Dover group is intentionally doing this but the fact that it is going on shows the sexism that is happening in business environments even if it is unconsciously being done. Again, further emphasizing business atmospheres and how they are traditionally more conservative work settings. We started discussing the managers because one of the wedding venues needs a new general manager since the current one is about to retire. I asked her who she thought it was going to be and she said she had no idea and that she only knew that two of the female managers were interested in the position. I am eager and hopeful to see if one of them does end up getting it.

Although this is such a small company compared to massive corporations, it does show bigger issues that have been occurring across many businesses. I think actually working in this setting has made me really appreciate my time in my Theories class because I am able to identify these issues rather than being “used to” them. It is important to see how these ways of thinking effect employees at all levels, not just managerial. Younger employees are looking up to these higher positions as role models for what they aspire to be so I think it is important that in this group they start to identify this and change this mindset of having men in power. As an intern, it is hard for me to figure out the change I can make, especially given I only have a few more weeks here. However, I think by pointing these implicit biases out to this particular female manager it could make her rethink the way in which she thinks about how she could potentially move up in the company. In addition, she may impact someone else, maybe another manager or even the owner, by saying that this is not right. I really hope to see changes, if not in the next few weeks, then in the next few years when I go back to visit one of Dover’s venues.