Empowering Voices: Creating an Inclusive Workspace

Women still encounter substantial hurdles in the workplace, as evidenced by the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity, which in 2023 was only narrowed by 37% in India, ranking 142 out of 146 countries. Additionally, globally, they occupy just 12.4% of C-Suite positions in STEM fields. Studies consistently highlight the side-lining, interruption, and undervaluing of women's voices.

Continuing our leadership series, this Women's Day, I invite you to reflect on the perspectives that hinder open dialogue and collaboration regarding gender equality in workplace. Surely, there's a greater conversation at play here—one that extends beyond gender lines.

Some may perceive this dialogue as unfair or unnecessary, considering:

• Unconscious bias and stereotypes often lead to underestimating commitment of female colleagues or dismissing their contributions. Addressing these biases would require curiosity, sensitization and intentionality.
• Fear of jeopardizing one's own position poses a threat of status quo. While the immediate environment may seem highly competitive, adopting a long-term perspective reveals a win-win scenario.
• Misconceptions about meritocracy include concerns that gender equality initiatives lower the bar for women. However, diverse perspectives, even if not entirely accurate, add value to team outcome. Women bring unique life experiences that contribute to cognitive diversity, enabling teams to creatively problem-solve with a broader range of ideas.

If one can overcome the short-term challenges for long-term benefits, there are advantages in amplifying female voices:

• Diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes: Research indicates that diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones. By listening to female voices, teams access wider range of perspectives, fostering innovation and better decision-making, resulting in financial gains.
• Increased employee engagement and retention: Inclusive workplaces exhibit higher levels of employee engagement and retention, fostering a positive workplace culture.
• Improved work-life balance: Gender equality in the workplace promote better work-life balance, benefiting all employees.

In today's era, female knowledge workers often find themselves as the sole representative of their gender in decision-making meetings, facing challenges in asserting their voices amidst cultural pressures to adopt subtle, apologetic tones. I strongly believe that men, irrespective of their leadership status, play a crucial role in empowering female voices and fostering an inclusive work culture.

Creating a more inclusive workspace leads to better outcomes, improved work-life balance, and collective success.

Sources:

1. World Economic Forum (2023). Global Gender Gap Report 2023
2. McKinsey & Company (2023). Women in the Workplace 2023.
3. Harvard Business Review (2023). Watch Out for These 3 Gender Biases in Performance Reviews by by Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio
4. McKinsey & Company (2020). Diversity Wins. How Inclusion Matters.
5. Harvard Business Review. (2022). Surprising benefits of work/life support, by Alexandra Kalev and Frank Dobbin.