Amplification and Task Assignment

Cassandra Syndrome and Amplification

In female talent management, we often encounter the "Cassandra Syndrome."

Like the Greek mythological figure who had the gift of seeing the future but the curse of no one believing her, many women experts are invited to meetings but their warnings and insights are systematically ignored.

Worse, they run the risk that, minutes after proposing an innovative solution that was met with silence, a male colleague will repeat the exact same idea and receive standing ovations for it.

To counteract this invisibility and theft of intellectual credit, the strategy of amplification is used.

This consists of allies reiterating the idea expressed by a female colleague, explicitly attributing authorship to her in front of the group.

A practical example would be: "I totally agree with the market proposal that Lucia just made; her idea about segmentation is brilliant and we should implement it as she suggests".

This technique not only ensures that the idea is considered, but also cements the original author's reputation with decision makers.

If an expert has not been called to a meeting where her area will be discussed, the leader should stop the session and ask, "Why are we discussing legal strategy without the lead attorney? We need her expertise here.

The Invisible Administrative Labor Trap

Another phenomenon that erodes equality is the unequal distribution of "office housework."

Tasks such as taking notes, organizing the logistics of the holiday party, cleaning the room after a meeting, or serving coffee fall disproportionately on women, regardless of their hierarchy.

These activities consume time, energy and do not contribute to performance evaluations or promotions, perpetuating the gender gap.

The conscious leader must intervene when these tasks are assigned by default ("because she is a woman").

One solution is to establish a fair rotational system for minutes and logistics, or for the leader herself to volunteer to perform these tasks occasionally, breaking the stigma of hierarchy.

In addition, it is vital to empower women to be selective and learn to say "no" to requests that make them the de facto secretaries of the team, encouraging them to prioritize high-strategic-impact projects.

A truly successful meeting is one where every voice has been hear