Middle Management (Photo credit: p_a_h)

For obvious reasons last week saw a bit of commentary about women in leadership roles (and I will blog about Lady Thatcher later on, but not I think the Tribunal case involving Stella English, Lord Sugar’s former Apprentice).

Meanwhile there is plenty to chew over in the latest Cranfield School of Management research on female board level appointments.  Apparently the rate at which women are making it to the top is slowing: confidence is still the issue.

If confidence is the cornerstone of achievement, the implication from Cranfield is that too few women in middle management have it.  They lack the potent belief in themselves that could take them to the top.  Perhaps men in line for top jobs will take the chance that they are good enough for the promotion right now, where women will be more cautious.

It seems the challenge for senior managers, as they nurture junior talent, remains:

–       Spotting potential high flyers, irrespective of gender or other differences

–       Providing them with opportunities to shine

–       Supporting them as their confidence grows

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/11/every-woman-boardroom-pull-more-up