Multitask, but not at the expense of your health

It was a brainstorming session of women achievers from various spheres.

But the women participants at a lecture in Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) on Saturday sought to identify the hurdles that they are accosted by instead of gloating over their achievements.

Prof Hema Krishnan, from IIM-B’s batch of 1988 and currently an associate dean at Xavier Institute, Cincinnati, USA, who delivered the lecture on Women Leadership, set the tone for event.
Pointing at the achievements of women from across the world, Krishnan said what women lack essentially is self-confidence. 

It is true that women have to work much harder to achieve the same position as compared to men.

Even if women were better qualified than their male counterparts, they have to work twice as much harder than men to gain the same occupational position or to earn the same level of recognition.

“But what I find is that Indian women in particular lack self-confidence and therefore self-esteem,” she said, adding that although they have come a long way in the last 20 years, they still have miles to go.

The participants agreed whole-heartedly with Krishnan and, in fact, further sought to explain the possible reasons for the low self-esteem.

While some felt it stems from fear of failure, others believed that a woman is one’s own harshest critique.

However, Krishnan pointed out that during the courses she teaches back in the United States, she has found that  over the years, women work harder.

“They plan what they intend to discuss, and go back and forth with the agenda, whereas the men enter class in a far less organised manner. But sadly what I have noticed over four consecutive years, is that men bring down women. For instance, after a presentation, a woman would be judged by different parameters than men. If a woman is assertive, she comes to be seen as one without humility,” said Krishnan.
During the interaction, Krishnan cautioned women to look after their health, in the midst of multi-tasking.

“The 40-50s syndrome, which I have come to coin, is what women should look out for. In their drive to rise and excel, what they forget is looking after themselves. I have noticed many women, be it CEOs or CFOs, suddenly quit after 25-30 years of intense working. Hence it is important to at least have a plan of action right from 30s when one should start slowing down,” she said.

The lecture was organised by IIM-B Alumni Association on Saturday for the alumni and friends of the premier
B-school.Vidya Iyengar Bangalore
It was a brainstorming session of women achievers from various spheres.

But the women participants at a lecture in Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) on Saturday sought to identify the hurdles that they are accosted by instead of gloating over their achievements.

Prof Hema Krishnan, from IIM-B’s batch of 1988 and currently an associate dean at Xavier Institute, Cincinnati, USA, who delivered the lecture on Women Leadership, set the tone for event.

Pointing at the achievements of women from across the world, Krishnan said what women lack essentially is self-confidence. 

It is true that women have to work much harder to achieve the same position as compared to men. Even if women were better qualified than their male counterparts, they have to work twice as much harder than men to gain the same occupational position or to earn the same level of recognition.

“But what I find is that Indian women in particular lack self-confidence and therefore self-esteem,” she said, adding that although they have come a long way in the last 20 years, they still have miles to go.

The participants agreed whole-heartedly with Krishnan and, in fact, further sought to explain the possible reasons for the low self-esteem.

While some felt it stems from fear of failure, others believed that a woman is one’s own harshest critique.

However, Krishnan pointed out that during the courses she teaches back in the United States, she has found that  over the years, women work harder.

“They plan what they intend to discuss, and go back and forth with the agenda, whereas the men enter class in a far less organised manner. But sadly what I have noticed over four consecutive years, is that men bring down women. For instance, after a presentation, a woman would be judged by different parameters than men. If a woman is assertive, she comes to be seen as one without humility,” said Krishnan.
During the interaction, Krishnan cautioned women to look after their health, in the midst of multi-tasking.

“The 40-50s syndrome, which I have come to coin, is what women should look out for. In their drive to rise and excel, what they forget is looking after themselves. I have noticed many women, be it CEOs or CFOs, suddenly quit after 25-30 years of intense working. Hence it is important to at least have a plan of action right from 30s when one should start slowing down,” she said.

The lecture was organised by IIM-B Alumni Association on Saturday for the alumni and friends of the premier
B-school.