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MNHQ

RADA launches "executive presence for women" courses - what do you think?

29 replies

BojanaMumsnet · 18/05/2017 17:03

Hello

We've been asked to comment on RADA's "executive presence for women courses" tomorrow and we're interested in hearing your thoughts.

Here's an article in the Times (behind a paywall) which explains that the course will get course participants to "stop nodding in agreement, smile a lot less and try a bit of manspreading next time you’re surrounded by a table of men at a meeting, even if you’re a woman."

The Times continues: "As part of its training, Rada has listed ten body language “mistakes, where female leaders unknowingly reduce their authority by denoting vulnerability or submission”. These include using too many head tilts, which imply empathy; taking up less physical space than men; inappropriately and excessively smiling; and failing to interrupt enough."

There's also an article in the Telegraph.

What do you think? Would you find this useful? Would you take this course if offered?

Thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 18/05/2017 17:43

Do you know what- they'd be better at teaching men not to be such misogynists in the office.

If I were to posture as they elicit on their course than I would get talked about behind my back and get a lot of "Who does she think she is?"

I am quite assertive as it is, and it is a difficult balancing game in order to be taken seriously.

WellErrr · 18/05/2017 17:40

Is it a joke?

Teaching women (at their own vast expense) to act more like men in order to be taken seriously?
Did no one think of maybe just taking workplace sexism more seriously? And that if anyone needs to go on courses, it's the men perpetuating the sexism?

Disgraceful.

bubblesagain · 18/05/2017 17:26

Charging £600 for a one day course and £2800 for the three day one to teach women not to head tilt or "to practice dreaded scenarios such as fending off sexist comments" just feels like taking the utter piss.

The solution to women being underpaid and having to deal with sexist comments in the workplace, should not be for them to pay to go on ridiculous courses to combat it.

KurriKurri · 18/05/2017 17:20

I find the whole idea of 'if you want to get on you have to act like a man' quite offensive actually. Time and effort might be better spent educating the men in question that having empathy, listening skills and people skills is something they could learn.

Also - learning to interrupt more? - how about men learning to interrupt less, not talk over people because they have louder voices and general buck up their manners and idea. The idea that women need to learn to sit with their legs at quarter to three in order to be taken seriously is laughable. How about men try to confine themselves to one space and not be selfish?

Appalling idea IMO and a retrograde step in terms of womens' equality.

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