Renée Loth, editorial page editor of the Boston Globe, really got my attention this morning.  Loth wrote about the governance situation in the state of New Hampshire.  Her attention was caught by a series of recent legislative actions in the New Hampshire House of Representatives over the past few months. The House voted to raise the state’s gasoline tax, allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, discontinue the use of capital punishment, and to allow same-sex marriage in the state (all these are still pending items).  Loth’s suggestion is that these changes represent a shift to a more liberal state - due to a historical fact.  She writes, “Since January, the New Hampshire Senate has been making history as the first majority female legislative body in the country……It’s as if there was a bloodless coup of the state’s political establishment in November, and women were the avatars of change.”   The explanations she suggests for why this is the case (extremely low pay therefore more like a volunteer activity), how it might change the way government works (importance of those relationships), and what might be the outcome (solving the tough problems by connecting the dots) give us a lot to think about.  

I’d just like everyone to check out the column and give it some thought in a business context as well. We talk a great deal about differences in management styles of women, and some good research supports that. Other (also good) research questions it.  I often see and hear entrepreneurial discussions about how women will create businesses that allow people to work together in different ways - usually a suggestion of a kinder and gentler business world.  I just don’t see that reality very often when I’m out and about in these businesses.  

We certainly need more innovation in our business models.  We need more innovation in our governmental models as well.  I know I’m going to be watching New Hampshire.  I’m not the only one. If you do check out the link to Loth’s column - you’ll see that several of the first responders to the article are pretty darn concerned about what’s going on up there. Your thoughts?

Submitted by: Patti Greene