Women are natural when it comes to management. Be it at home or work.

Somebody I know was sitting with anxiety lining his forehead as he rubbed his temples. His ten year old ambled by curiously and asked, “Are you gonna cry Dad?”
The father looked up and smiled, “ No love, I’m just worried about some problem at office. Its adult talk, you go play outside.”
“Dad, you could always talk to Mama because she can put anything right at home; ask her to help you at the office too, “ came the reply brimming with pride and confidence.

Linda Goodman in her book “Love Signs” writes that a child’s wisdom is the purest of them all because it arises from innocence and naivety, its unbiased and basic. Now when one thinks about it we realize that the true st and most observant accounts and statements come from children out of the blue.
My friend then paid little heed to his son’s advice but the little one’s observation had me thinking about his mum and all the mums who manage an entire household and yet nobody considers it a big deal because it is expected of them. What intrigued me further is the fact that these mommas and homemakers have an instinctive and natural inclination towards management without having studied and passed modules of human resource management, organizational behavior, budgeting etc.
This article has nothing to do with women’s lib or the fact that women can be better at management then men; its about sheer observation and the verity that home related decisions whether short term or long term are akin to business decisions on a smaller scale.
How many of you have ever found stock files labeled FIFO, LIFO or AVCO or anything similar related to management of goodies and stocks lying around the house? And how many of you run to the nearest bakery every time there is an unexpected guest? Or experienced a stock-out situation in the kitchen? Ever wonder how the lady of the house does it without any help and so efficiently? You can test her anytime and she will aces in inventory management. All required consumable items will be available on the house and she will probably reel off the quantities in the store without a 'stock register'.
Management studies emphasize on the need of parallel thinking, to sort out various problems and take decisions simultaneously. While to women it comes naturally, their better halfs are serial thinkers meaning that they tackle one thing at a time. She feeds and packs off the kids to school, solves the morning crises before hubby dear leaves for the office, plans the day’s menu, figures out the errands and directs the household staff all before noon not to mention that everything is then done with a perfect finish.
When the shopping list emerges we see the characteristics of a good manageress. Not only are the family budgets prudent and complete but also reflect the quality of stay within it limits. Also it comes without pointing out that women by nature are ‘bargain hunters’, be they be wives of bank executives or a civil servant, they will diplomatically cut a deal to their advantage and manage to take the months balance forward as savings.
What I can’t forget or ignore is how moms always manage to get things done their way. The art of motivation starts from giving confidence during the tough times to threatening to creating competition as to who does what first, not to mention the rewards that followed. Women are natural at training, they will outline the priorities, bring out the best in the family members, polish up the present skill and train for the future. Prepare the daughters to be good housewives and then good professionals, outline the imperative aspects of the future to their sons etc. Such a keen understanding of psychology and such deep insight comes from interest and observations…how many managers do you know who are like this?
Oh and then stepping between the crossfire at home and tackling problems before they get worst can be added to the list. They ace at the skill of persuasion and know that group decisions are easier to implement while looking out of mood swings before approaching an issue. They seem to know exactly when to retreat tactically or to commend in order to pull off what they have in mind. Egos are crucial for good performance, but we are all aware of the mayhem that a bruised ego can create and managing egos is a talent missing in many good managers that costs them more then their jobs.
Future decisions and planning can be one of the most trying things ever; time is needed to evaluate, plan ahead and put the plan into action. Our manageress doesn’t need to be told, she know exactly where she wants her company in the coming future and she would give her right hand to get it there. Strategic planning is on track, providing for the children’s marriages, education, health care, old age and the size of the house with the increasing family etc. For her, her little company comes first and then herself, its self-sacrifice and she does it happily be it concerning the smallest piece of desert or her happiness.
Through the entire crisis, tribulations and worries she still manages to run the show with success. And I repeat that I’m not making a point here that men should be ready to step down from their management posts, just this that women should be appreciated at home so that later its easier to appreciate the challenge the provide at work.