EOW Reflections: Females Role Models

My female role models are numerous for which I am very grateful. From my darling grandmother who died when I was very young but who has never left me, to the amazing women I have the great good fortune to work closely with or have enlightening conversations with occasionally over coffee or a glass of something sparkling. As it is International Women’s Day tomorrow, and March is Women’s History Month, this seems to be an appropriate time to say ‘thank you’.

On reflection my female role models have one thing in common: they aren’t out for themselves. Their horizons are wider, they have purpose, they are looking beyond making money, self-progression, or power for power’s sake. They all want to lift other people up or ‘pay it forward’ in the current phrase of choice.

My role models don’t just help me see things differently, think of better ways and grasp opportunities. They give me hope. Most of them are women you haven’t heard of yet. Others would be amazed that anyone would think of them as role models. There are different people I turn to in different circumstances, wise heads in heated moments. I am grateful to you all. over the years, for your unflinching and unfailing support. I don’t say thank you enough.

One person stands out. She is with me frequently although she died several years ago, a few days before her 80th birthday. 3 days before her death she and I howled with laughter in her hospice room surrounded by flowers of all varieties and colours, as she composed her flower quiz for the next church fundraising venture. The ever-patient nurses knew better than to demand quiet and decorum. We knew it was the last time.

We met when Sheila spoke at a conference I was chairing. She talked about her work, years as head of personnel for one the UK’s biggest best-known companies. She’d just managed a massive restructure. Many roles had been axed. Many people had lost their jobs. She’d axed her own role too. The business was saved and the objective for Sheila had been to help the people affected into other roles with other firms. Her guiding principle was always: these are people not human resources.

Every time I hear someone use the phrase ‘human resources’ I hear Sheila in my ear: they’re people. People, with lives, families, responsibilities, differences, similarities, needs, skills, experiences, all deserving of the same respect. They aren’t a resource to be tapped into. They’re people to value and nurture.

I’ve tried to apply the Sheila principle ever since. I know I won’t always have made a great fist of it, but ‘people before processes’ is very important to me. In a world where the push for power seems to be increasingly the driving force, people are simply seen as resources. When you run out of resources what happens to power then? I just wish you could all have known Sheila. Thank you to a very dear friend and role model.