Despite a growing number of women and minorities in the workplace, the directors of corporate boards remain mostly white and male, according to a new report on Fortune 100 companies. Women and minorities together account for less than a third of the directors on more than 60 percent of the boards examined, according to the report. African Americans represent 7% of all corporate board members.
In spite of these grim statistics, there is a great deal of hope for the possibility of women and minorities sitting in positions of authority. The more you perform and the higher you go up the corporate ladder, the less color matters. The truth is that corporations are seeking individuals who can enhance the bottom line. A good corporate manager doesn’t care if you are black or white, as long as you deliver the green.
What, exactly, is “the green?” Money, of course, but that’s only one form of currency which matters to top performers. In the end, performance counts as much as money. But not just any kind of performance, the performance must be outstanding and consistent. You should make high performance into a habit, not a spurious event. Sure, you can come up with a bright idea that saves the department millions and get just as many “atta-boys” as the next person; but you must be sure to prove that your success was more than just a fluke.
In playing the game at the top, you can’t expect short-cuts. You must be willing to do the simple and menial jobs to open the door for the glamorous, high income opportunities. There are always eyes on your actions and every job is mission-critical, not just to the company but to your personal objectives. In fact, how you perform when you’re working at the bottom is often used by top brass to signify how you’ll perform at the top.
Show that you are a team player, a consistent worker, and an independent decision-maker, and you’ll become a valuable asset to any corporation.
To read more about the only color they see, please visit www.corporateclimb.net to purchase an advanced copy of How to Play The Game At the Top and receive free access to How to Play The Game At The Top 101 Course.
ABOUT FENORRIS PEARSON
Fenorris Pearson is the CEO of Global Consumer Innovation, INC (www.globalconsumerinnovation.com) and one of the youngest people ever to be a VP of two fortune 50 companies (Dell and Motorola), a feat he completed before turning age 40. An avid Philanthropist, Fenorris is currently serving on three boards: Alonzo Mourning Charities located in Miami, FL, Imagine Schools of Central Texas located in Austin, TX, and SIFE: Students In Free Enterprise. To find out more information visit www.corporateclimb.net or call (901) 413-0203 for media queries and speaking engagements.
Tags: black entrepreneurs, black entrepreneurship, global consumer innovation, playing the game at the top