Women make up more than half of America’s population and over 47 percent of its workforce; yet women remain underrepresented at every level in professional industries. At the current rate, it will take more than 100 years to achieve gender parity at the highest levels of U.S. corporations.
And this isn’t only a moral issue; according to McKinsey Global Institute, advancing women’s equality could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025.
So how can you empower women in your office and set them up to succeed? Start with some of our workplace empowerment tips.
Establish and encourage mentorships
Connecting women with strong role models provides them with sources of inspiration and advice, and also gives them more visibility with leadership. Incentivize your senior employees to participate in a mentorship network across genders and departments. Mentorship also benefits companies, leading to greater employee engagement, a more positive work environment, higher retention, and increased productivity.Foster an open, collaborative culture
In general, women are adept at building relationships, understanding people’s needs, and motivating those around them. You can nurture and capitalize on these traits by designing a culture of collaboration where everyone is comfortable sharing their ideas. Teamwork and open conversation can introduce employees to new colleagues, views, and skills.