Videos are powerful. They are great teaching aides and the communication tool of choice of our time.
I love them and would love to have a regular video future, showcasing a different women working in mining from different countries, telling us who they are, what they do, what they like about mining and what mining means to them. I hope to inspire you in sending us videos made on your smartphones or even more sophisticated ones.
I’d like to share two interesting videos I came across recently. You may have come across them as they have been mentioned and commented on, for a good reason.
1. Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk: Your body language shapes who you are of 2012 is transformational. I recommend everyone who hasn’t seen it to view it here.
“Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success. Amy Cuddy’s research on body language reveals that we can change other people’s perceptions — and even our own body chemistry — simply by changing body positions.”
2. Bayer has come up with interesting information to explain the business case for gender balance in management which they published in December 2013. It may not be mining related but it is a valid attempt by a company to showcase the importance of it culturally, the benefits the company derives and what it would lose out by not doing it. An employee (“Peter”) is asked to employ women in his team and he asks why and his colleague explains why in a way that he can understand.
This little video might help you to explain the business case to men at your company and once they’ve got it like Peter they can become champions.
If you have any other videos you want to share with me contact me at barbara@womeninmining.net