Today we see more and more women entering the corporate workplace. Even myself an employee in Software Industry. But what I generally see is that most of the women are in the lower position. Very few u see in the middle and senior management. But to be frank for women to make a mark in the corporate world we need women leaders as well. Why I am saying so because I have worked both under a male manager as well as a female manager. Currently my manager is a female. The key differences I have felt while working with a male manager and a female manager is that men expect women to work the same way as men. They are not very sensitive to their problems. Whereas a woman manager understands her woman subordiante's situation perfectly. It is difficult for a married woman especially with kids to sit late hours in office. But that doesn't mean she is inefficient. She can give the same output as her male counterpart if the manager is supportive enough. In the appraisal discussions in most cases where women managers are not there a lady who goes at sharp 6 is given a lower rating compared to a guy who sits till 9. But what the managers many time miss is that this lady comes at 8:30 too when most managers are not there in their seat. I have seen many ladies skipping coffee breaks and lunch breaks because they have to leave at 6, whereas many male collegues happily indulge in all these. But in the end they get benefit because it is they whom the manager sees when he comes and goes. Whereas if you have a lady manager she also will have similar problems in home management and hence will keep a time. Hence a woman's work will get noticed compared to her timings. Also the lady manager can pitch very well for her subordinate in appraisal discussions. So in my opinion if the ladies needs to progress in their careers they need to have some lady managers at the top to support them at every step.
