Empowering women in your workplace

Start by listening

Hearing from women, by giving them a voice, is one of the most effective ways to empower the women you work with. Making presumptions about what women want can be counterproductive, as needs change, each person’s circumstances are unique, and some methodologies become outdated as society progresses.

Here are three important and practical tips:

Ask questions

Talk to women in your organisation, regardless of job title, about their career development, working conditions, upskilling, work culture and upskilling. Do they have concerns, or suggestions?

Make sure they’re heard

In group situations, like meetings, are they being listened to equally? Are their suggestions and opinions perceived as valid?

Demonstrate

If you have capacity to bring in motivational speakers or business leaders, can they be successful women?

Create mentorship opportunities

Adding more women to your workforce is important, but it’s also imperative to support the growth of the women currently within your business.

The reality is, in most board meetings, women are usually outnumbered by their male colleagues.

One way to help address this imbalance, and help your female colleagues with career advancement, is through workshops, training sessions, skill-building exercises and mentorship programs.

When you provide the right training and opportunities for women to perform leadership roles, you’re creating a more diverse and dynamic leadership team.

What else can you do?

It’s a huge topic to cover, so we can’t go into detail on everything you can do, but here are a few more quick tips for empowering the women in your workplace.

Welcome individuality

Differences can be strengths. Lean into the varied perspectives and ways of working, be open to unexpected solutions.

Be open and honest

Admitting to setbacks and mistakes is a powerful way of giving your female colleagues confidence, by proving vulnerability and failure are part of success.

Be approachable

Make sure the women in your team know you are open to hearing them, and working with them, to help them progress, or to address any issues.

Have their back

In situations like meetings, be vocal in showing your support. In other forums, like email, do the same by championing ideas and perspectives.

Celebrate strengths

Help your female colleagues gain more recognition by calling out their accomplishments and skills.