7 Ways In Which We Can Nurture Future Women Leaders

The participation of women in the global workforce has been growing slowly but steadily. However, organizations need a structured approach to nurturing future women leaders to avoid them falling off the ladder mid-career. In a scenario where more women are reporting high levels of stress and feeling burned out, organizations need to take note and assess the ecosystem they are creating for future women leaders.

It is crucial to nurture and develop future women leaders to ensure gender equality in leadership roles. Gender equality in leadership roles is essential for businesses, economies, and societies to thrive. It is widely known that women are underrepresented in leadership positions across various sectors.

According to reports, women own only 21% of early executives and hold 28% of board seats, which is better than before, and 25.5% of parliamentarians post globally. Hence, it is imperative to encourage and provide support to women to help them achieve their potential in leadership roles.

The situation across business and government has been improving when it comes to the increasing participation of women in different sectors. However, the pace has been slow and there is a possibility to accelerate the pace of participation of women in the global workforce. 

Top 7 Ways To Nurture Future Women Leaders

There are several ways in which organizations can nurture future women leaders. The top 7 ways to nurture future women leaders are as follows:

Provide Autonomy

Empowering women to make decisions is a critical step in nurturing future women leaders. Several studies confirm that women who feel they have decision-making authority are more likely to say they aspire to executive leadership roles. Women who have more control over their work environment are more likely to experience job satisfaction and less likely to leave their jobs.

In the United States, many companies are taking steps to empower women to make decisions. For example, Adobe, a technology company, created a program called the "Adobe Women in Technology" initiative, which provides training and mentorship to women in technology roles. The program also includes a leadership development component, which helps women develop the skills they need to make decisions and lead teams.

Encouraging risk-taking and creativity is another way to provide autonomy to women and nurture future women leaders. Women who are encouraged to take risks are more likely to develop confidence and leadership skills. A report by BCG found that companies with diverse leadership teams are more likely to be innovative and financially successful.

Providing opportunities for women to lead projects is another critical way to nurture future women leaders. Women who have led significant projects or initiatives are more likely to be promoted to leadership roles. Those who lead cross-functional projects have more chances to be successful in leadership roles.

Help Prioritize Family

Supporting women who are caregivers is essential for nurturing future women leaders. According to a study by McKinsey, women are more likely than men to take on caregiving responsibilities, which can impact their career advancement.

Organizations like Deloitte are supporting women who are caregivers. Deloitte's "Time Out" program allows employees to take up to three months off to care for a family member. The program also provides coaching and resources to help employees manage their caregiving responsibilities.

Offering flexible schedules and remote work options is a critical way to help prioritize family and nurture future women leaders. Flexible work arrangements can improve work-life balance and reduce stress for employees. Employees who work remotely at least some of the time are more likely to be engaged in their work.

Providing resources for childcare and eldercare is another way to help prioritize family and nurture future women leaders. Lack of access to affordable childcare can have a significant impact on women's employment and career advancement. Additionally, a study found that 69% of family caregivers have had to make workplace adjustments, such as taking unpaid leaves or reducing their hours, to take care of a family member.

Supportive Leaders/Manager

There are initiatives like a four-day workweek and performance over presence that can generate positive press for an organization, women employees must have a supportive and empathetic manager in place. A Friday off won't move the needle by much if women employees have to deal with an unsupportive team for the rest of the week.

According to the data from The New Human Age, women want more flexibility in their jobs, with no job insecurity. Women employees are willing to walk away from the job if the situation fails to improve or the employers fail to meet their needs. A good manager or a leader can help them achieve the same.

Recognizing and rewarding effective management is an important way to prioritize the manager and nurture future women leaders. Employees who feel recognized for their work are more engaged and productive.

Companies need to ensure that women are working in an ecosystem that works as a support system and not a hindrance to their work. This will not only improve the overall culture and environment but will also deliver positive results for the business. 

Do not Make the Office a Must-go-to

Making the office a magnet, not a mandate, helps nurture future women leaders. Offering alternative workspaces and work arrangements can help employees achieve a better work-life balance and increase job satisfaction.

According to a survey by Flex Jobs, 65% of respondents reported being more productive working from home than in a traditional office setting. Companies with flexible work arrangements have higher employee engagement and retention rates.

Companies like Dell are offering alternative workspaces and work arrangements. The "Connected Workplace" program from the organization allows employees to work from home or any other location, as long as they have access to the necessary technology. The program has helped increase employee productivity and job satisfaction.

Encouraging collaboration and communication is another important way to nurture future women leaders. Employees who feel connected to their colleagues and have a strong sense of community are more engaged and productive.

Prioritizing productivity over presence is another important way to nurture future women leaders. Employees who feel they have control over their work schedules and workloads are more engaged and productive.

Offering alternative workspaces and work arrangements, encouraging collaboration and communication, and prioritizing productivity over presence can help increase employee engagement, productivity, and retention rates.

Trust Comes First

Promoting a culture of trust and transparency is an important way to encourage future women leaders. Trust in organizations is linked to higher employee engagement, job satisfaction, and retention rates.

Salesforce is one organization that promotes a culture of trust and transparency. The "Ohana" culture of the organization emphasizes transparency, trust, and inclusivity. The company has been recognized for its high levels of employee engagement and retention rates.

Empowering women to make decisions helps build trust and encourages them to discover their leadership qualities. Employees who feel empowered to make decisions are more engaged and productive. Giving them a sense of belongingness and respecting their opinions makes them feel valued and heard. Such employees are more likely to perform well and stay loyal to their organization.

Encouraging open and honest communication also helps build trust and nurture future women leaders. Female employees who feel they can express their opinions without fear of retribution tend to be more productive.

Promoting a culture of trust and transparency, empowering employees to make decisions, and encouraging open and honest communication are essential for nurturing future women leaders.

Level the Playing Field

Addressing pay and opportunity gaps is a crucial way to level the playing field and nurture future women leaders. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take 136 years to close the global gender gap. It is critical to understand that this number has moved up from 100 years to 136 years now. In other words, rather than making progress, the world is going back to worse situations.

There are a few companies like Starbucks that are trying to address pay and opportunity gaps. Starbucks has committed to pay equity and regularly conducts gender and ethnicity pays equity reviews. The company has also implemented leadership development programs to increase gender and ethnic diversity at the executive level.

Offering unconscious bias training for all employees is an important way to level the playing field and nurture future women leaders. Unconscious bias can impact hiring, promotions, and performance evaluations.

Building a diverse and inclusive team helps achieve higher employee engagement, innovation, and financial performance. Companies with more ethnic and gender diversity at the executive level have higher financial performance than those with less diversity.

Addressing pay and opportunity gaps, offering unconscious bias training for all employees, and creating a diverse and inclusive workplace culture is essential for leveling the playing field and nurturing future women leaders.

Destigmatize Conversations Around Mental Wellness

Organizations need to destigmatize conversations around mental wellness to ensure that organizations can nurture a strong pipeline of women leaders. Offering mental health resources and support is a critical way to destigmatize conversations around mental wellness. According to a report by Agenda Alliance, issues related to mental health are on the rise among women. The issues are generally related to abuse and violence.

Apple, for instance, offers mental health resources and support for its employees. It has implemented an Employee Assistance Program that provides confidential counseling services and resources for mental health and wellness. The company also offers mental health first aid training for employees to recognize and respond to mental health crises.

Normalizing discussions around mental wellness is an important way to destigmatize conversations around mental wellness and nurture future women leaders. According to a report by the American Psychiatric Association, stigma remains a major barrier to seeking mental health care. By normalizing discussions around mental wellness, companies can create a culture that supports mental health and wellness.

Ernst & Young has implemented a "Better You" program that includes resources for mental health and wellness, including mindfulness training, yoga classes, and mental health coaching. The company has also launched a "Let's Talk About It" campaign that encourages employees to share their mental health experiences and seek support.

Encouraging employees to prioritize self-care also helps to destigmatize conversations around mental wellness and nurture future women leaders. Self-care practices like exercise, sleep, and social support can improve mental health and reduce stress.

Offering mental health resources and support, normalizing discussions around mental wellness, and encouraging employees to prioritize self-care are essential for destigmatizing conversations around mental wellness and nurturing future women leaders.

Conclusion

Nurturing future women leaders is essential for creating a more equitable and diverse society. Recent statistics show that despite progress, women are still underrepresented in leadership positions in the United States. There are only 10% of companies in the list of Fortune 500 that are run by women. While this is a record figure, it is not difficult to imagine what the situation was like a few years ago.

It is time for individuals, communities, and organizations to take action to support and empower women leaders. The seven ways outlined in this article can help organizations create a more equitable and diverse society where all individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential. 

Organizations must prioritize women's leadership and create an environment where their female employees can thrive. It's not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense. Let's all take action to support women leaders and create a brighter future for all.

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