Over the last few years, great strides have been made to overcome the challenges faced by women in the workplace. Across FTSE 350 company boards, 40% of roles are now held by women. Representation at the highest levels is improving massively, yet LinkedIn data shows that women are facing numerous barriers when it comes to taking the first step into a leadership position.
In the ongoing quest for inclusive organisations, fostering a company culture that empowers and supports women is crucial. This benefits not only individual employees but also contributes to the overall success and innovation of the organisation.
Rae Chowdhury, Regional Director UK&I and Middle East at CoachHub, the leading global digital coaching platform, shares her five essential steps on how organisations can develop an inclusive culture for women.
- Addressing gender disparities in leadership
To bridge the gender gap, organisations can consider implementing diversity initiatives, such as women in leadership programmes, offering coaching to female employees at all seniority levels, and revaluating promotion policies. When companies implement such initiatives, 57% see improved business outcomes and nearly 75% report increased profit by 25%. Implementing gender-neutral hiring processes, avoiding gender-biased language in job descriptions and incorporating blind hiring can also contribute to a more equitable selection process.
- Destigmatising parental leave
In a post-pandemic era, policies regarding flexible working are more common. It’s important to look out for the mental well-being of every individual. Organisations can support parents through keep in touch days, inclusive health insurance and paid parental leave. Adopting a culture of flexibility will lead to healthier, more productive employees.
- Re-evaluate feedback methods
Stanford University research found that in performance reviews of both men and women in tech, women were more likely to receive negative feedback. Ensuring that performance reviews reflect diversity goals is essential as it’s often hard for women to receive accurate feedback, which can then have an impact on their career trajectory. Women who act against feminine stereotypes can be judged as too assertive or aggressive, while men who demonstrate the same behaviours are often seen as exhibiting leadership skills. This type of feedback will prevent women from improving in the workplace and can limit their chance of promotion.
- Using coaching to overcome gender biases
We all have biases that we are not aware of. These unconscious biases often hinder progress towards gender equality. Some biases can prevent women being seen as equals, especially in industries where women may be under-represented. Despite these perspectives being unconscious, organisations can utilise coaching to educate employees to recognise and overcome them.
- Fostering women’s leadership development
Implementing women in leadership programs that focus on negotiation skills, enhancing personal influence, and addressing specific challenges faced by women in leadership positions can also have a profound impact.
Coaching women and their managers throughout various stages of employment helps counteract imposter syndrome and connects an individual’s work-life to their broader life outside of work. Research has found that women are more likely to downplay their skills and abilities even when they are performing as well as their male counterparts. This confidence gap between men and women is a barrier to women’s advancement in the workplace. Once women have self-confidence, they are able to bring their authentic self into work, have faith in their skills and are able to develop their strengths successfully.
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
