GLS
Consulting, Inc. 73% of women spoke about their ability to have an
impact, a sense of satisfaction, achievement, autonomy, and freedom to be
creative they experienced. Fewer
gender-related issues (though they still exist), and much greater flexibility to
accomplish work in unconventional were described as the “upsides” of working
in the new economy:
·
Many women described how the new economy provided them with a
sense of satisfaction and achievement:
“The impact you can have, the
freedom, the lack of bureaucracy, the companies tend to be smaller, which makes
accomplishment or lack thereof more visible, which in turn cuts down the
politics and rewards the high achievers.”
“The positive is the complete
impact you can have on the organization and its growth. The feeling is amazing.
Different from corporations, there is a real feeling of achievement and
satisfaction.”
“Being part of a start-up
enables me to derive a huge amount of satisfaction and passion from my job. We
all work so hard regardless these days—it’s so much more gratifying to apply
the sweat equity to a young enterprise where you feel like you’re making a
major contribution. The personal relationships that grow out of the frenetic
environment are great. Work is, for better or worse, a replacement for
neighborhood communities these days. “
·
Some spoke about personal growth and autonomy as upsides of the
new economy:
“Growth, personal and
professional; diversity in tasks, opportunity to be a decision maker.”
“You are your own boss.
You make the decisions and get to implement without spending lost of time
working with bureaucracy. Lots of
camaraderie. The ups are much
greater – because you feel the impact of your contributions.”
·
Others focused on the flexibility that their jobs allow for both
creativity and their personal lives:
“I think that the most
important upside is that companies can be more flexible about the work hours and
environment than larger more established companies. For example the ability to
telecommute part-time and/or leave for an emergency or a personal issue is more
likely to be an option.”
“One keeps one’s own
schedules. The flexibility is probably more important for women with children
than it is for men.”
·
Women also liked being part of the new economic revolution and having a
greater impact and making a difference in the world:
“The feeling of being in
something big or important from the beginning is exciting. In ‘old economy’ jobs, women enter into something already
established with expectations historically crafted around men.
In the new economy, women can be involved from the foundation on up,
helping craft the standards and expectations that will define the industries.
It’s incredibly exciting.”
“The ability to be creative and
develop entire companies and organizations from scratch.
The carte blanche ability to move as fast as possible, hire the best and
brightest. The ability to shape a
culture from ground zero. The
ability to, on a daily basis, be a part of the greatest transformation in the
world economy ever known to man due to the Internet.
I can look back 50 years from now and say that I was part of shaping
history as opposed to sitting on the sidelines watching it happen.
It’s absolutely exhilarating.”
34% of women reported enjoying the challenge of the
new economy – they described exciting work, and/or the fast paced, dynamic,
non-hierarchical working environment.
“The new paradigm and the
dynamics involved make this a creative and exciting time to work.”
“Exciting daily changes. Fun
and young.”
“It’s exciting to be on the
cutting edge where all issues need to be rethought and nothing can be taken for
granted.”
“Comfortable, casual, friendly,
and professional atmosphere in the office. Co-workers are extremely helpful,
responsive.”
In addition, 16% of women specifically mention that
the financial reward potential is an important upside.
“Opportunity to create and be
compensated for ground floor opportunities for both genders, especially women as
they have an opportunity to more quickly benefit from the beginning of a gold
rush, similar to the cable industries.”
Summary of upsides:
Women described the upsides of the new economy in
contradistinction to traditional companies they have previously worked for. The
social construction of new economy companies is, in many ways, a remarkably good
environment for women to be productive, and to achieve a significant impact in
the world of business. Again,
we wonder whether this may have something to do with the fact that 50% of women
list their position as president, owner, senior or upper-middle manager.
»NEXT: WHAT ARE THE DOWNSIDES?