The Covid-19 Opportunity to Level the Playing Field

I see this time of working from home as a significant opportunity to "level the playing field" for women and under represented talent who may not have been as visible in their organizations before.

In the office environment, the over confident, self promoters were able to easily bring attention to themselves. Men more easily socialized during and after and built networks and connections with senior leaders. Some leaders worried about the "optics" of spending too much one-on-one time with women. Lots of people spent most of their time with people like them instead of interacting with a diverse broad network of colleagues.

In the largely "work from home environment" underrepresented voices, quieter, more humble people and introverts can express their insights and ideas in writing, directly to senior leaders and on calls. Cross gender, reciprocal mentoring and career sponsorship can take place more frequently.

On the home front, parents can change gender paradigms and demonstrate gender equity in the roles they take on, the tasks they perform and the respect they show each other.

We can seize this time to make huge strides to rethink, reframe and reimagine how we work, lead and live together,