Guest opinion: Helping women thrive in the workplace
By Dorene MacVey | Owner, ithrive31
It’s not a new notion that women should support each other. In our current environment, it’s becoming more common to hear things like “Your circle should want to see you win. … If not, find a new circle,” and hashtags like #LeanInTogether are trending on social media. While women can benefit from the support of other women in nearly all areas of their lives, one of the most critical is within the workplace.
Workplaces are difficult for women.
Workplaces can be challenging for women. Women make up half of the educated labor force and earn the majority of advanced degrees. While women are succeeding in the academic arena, we have a long way to go in the workplace. Women are stalling out, and the higher they go, the harder it gets. Gender bias in decision making, the perpetual glass ceiling and discriminatory workplace practices are some of the challenges facing professional working women.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, studies suggest that we’re making it even harder for ourselves. I read a statistic recently that 30 percent of bullies in the workplace are women and 67 percent of the time, their targets are other women. This is alarming to me. We should be waging the battles for equality and recognition together — not tearing each other down to achieve individual success. We must be committed to changing the environments around us and helping our female co-workers succeed. Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO, stated that “The glass ceiling will go away when women help other women break through.”
So what can be done to support one another in the workplace?
Helping women thrive in the workplace
“The glass ceiling will go away when women help other women break through.”
— Indra Nooyi, former PepsiCo CEO
While women can benefit from the support of other women in nearly all areas of their life, one of the most critical is within the workplace. Here are three practical examples of ways we can support one another and ensure each other’s success in the workplace.
Make it a priority to support other women.
With the increasing workplace demands and pressures, time is always a challenge. Consider your female role models and the women you admire. Most successful women make time for mentoring, supporting and uplifting one another.
Take the time to connect with women – and not just the ones who can help you get ahead. Too often the focus is on the high-potential, highly visible women and yet our workplaces are filled with so many women with diverse talents, experiences and ideas. Take time to get to know women at all levels, backgrounds and stages in their careers.
I worked with a senior engineering leader who is incredibly successful at prioritizing her time to connect with women across her large organization. Every month, she keeps a list of women whom she meets but doesn’t know well. These women are from all parts of the organization – all levels, positions and tenure. Each month she invites eight to 10 of them to lunch. They network, learn from each other and share ideas. At the end of the year, she gets to know over 100 new women. In addition, she expands the women’s networking circle in this organization by 14,400. This is a great example of how prioritizing a couple of hours a month can have exponential impact.
Promote women’s networking activities.
Many large organizations have corporate-sponsored women’s networking groups. As a former executive sponsor of a women’s resource group for a Fortune 500 company, I have seen the benefits firsthand. These groups provide great personal and professional growth opportunities, create a supportive environment and build leadership talent within the organization.
In our women’s resource group, we focused on areas such as personal development, career development, community support and employee recognition. We implemented a formal charter, established roles and responsibilities, held monthly meetings, and organized monthly events. It was one of my most rewarding career accomplishments.
Even if you do not have a formal women’s group, it is still possible to focus on women’s issues in the workplace. If you work in a small organization, start by initiating a couple of development or networking events a year. For example, consider bringing in a guest speaker to discuss a hot topic, or schedule a workshop to help members hone their skills. If your workplace does not have a lot of women, you may want to partner with other organizations to leverage cross-company networking and development opportunities.
Also consider the important role men play. In our women’s network, we had a male champion, a male executive sponsor, and we publicly recognized men who actively supported women in the workplace. Some of our best advocates were men. Find the men who are eager to get involved and who can help champion women’s success in the workplace.
Be intentional to encourage women.
Finally, show your personal support and encouragement for your female co-workers. I will never forget a female executive who went out of her way to encourage me. After leading a difficult meeting, I came home to find a note tucked in my computer bag. It simply said, “Well done today. You led the team through a difficult subject with great diplomacy. I was really impressed. Let me know if I can support you in any way.” That meant a lot to me, and I continue to use her as an important mentor in my life.
Too often we move quickly from one thing to the next. I encourage you to be intentional with your support of the women in your path. Slow down and spend the time to recognize one another, show your support, and reinforce our commitment to each other’s success.
Dorene MacVey is the owner of ithrive31 A Coaching and Personal Development Company. She previously worked with Collins Aerospace (formerly Rockwell Collins), where she served as the executive sponsor for the Women’s Employee Resource Group.
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