By Tino Mantella
TLG President & CEO
Over the last five years, I’ve had the great fortune of seeing what companies today are doing to support their female employees. Top companies are not waiting for women to rise through the ranks with common support; rather, they have implemented proactive plans instead of leaving advancement to chance.
Company goals related to helping women leaders rise are consistent and include:
- Providing mentorship and sponsorship.
- Challenging participating women with complex assignments while providing education to deliver the necessary support.
- Strengthening expectations of career support.
- Building a pipeline of women who have the potential to move into management and senior-level positions.
- Fostering an environment grounded in psychological safety and empathy.
- Promoting a deeper understanding of the unique challenges that women in business face.
Understanding the opportunities and challenges noted above is a start, but the rubber meets the road when companies invest in bringing their goals to life. To that end, here are some of the types of programs that Turknett Leadership Group (TLG) has developed in partnership with our clients to specifically advance women in the workplace:
- One-on-one executive and high-potential coaching utilizing TLG’s exceptional female and male coaches.
- Collaborative and group coaching bringing women leaders together to grow and inspire each other while tackling pertinent issues.
- Workshops and development programs that facilitate self-awareness while building skill sets in areas like communication, executive presence, and conflict management.
- Access to almost twenty years of inspiring and informative content through TLG’s Women in Leadership program, including the monthly Women in Leadership Signature Series.
Championing Women’s Progression
Most would agree that women have made much progress regarding being given equitable opportunities to be leaders, yet, according to a February 2023 article in Catalyst, only about 8% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies are women. Of course, that’s only one measure and most certainly not the most important. Nevertheless, there is a long way to go to tap into the significant talent women have.
Men have to do their part by becoming allies and championing women where they are. They must speak up when they see injustice and avoid staying on the sidelines. Here are three ways men can support their women colleagues:
- One important step that men can take to elevate women is to better recognize and celebrate their contributions and achievements. Ensure that female colleagues are receiving proper credit for their ideas and accomplishments.
- Second, men can actively support their female colleagues through mentorship. This is especially important in organizations that don’t already have a lot of women in senior positions of leadership.
- Third, men can facilitate open dialogue and conversation around the issues that women face such as maternity leave, equal pay, and other barriers to advancement. This is a great way for men to listen to women on these issues and address potential biases.
Tino
Contact Info:
Cell: 678-984-8528