With business, corporate and political leadership today being predominantly male, we cannot ignore the important role men can play in closing the gender gap. Men are largely the gate keepers and decision makers when it comes to creating room for women at the decision table. It is critical that organisations and women themselves, engage and enlist men as allies and sponsors to move the needle on gender equality.
Here are some ways in which this can be done:
• Enlist male support by highlighting the strategic imperative that gender parity represents to the business. Share the data and explain what the risks and opportunities are.
• Provide reverse mentoring opportunities where women can share their lived experiences of bias and explain what senior male leaders can do to level the playing field.
• Make the issue personal by relating it to the experiences of their daughters, sisters and wives.
• Involve men in gender diversity discussions so they understand the issues better. It’s pointless just having women talking to women given the role men can play.
• Senior women in leadership must leverage their privilege and influence to enlighten and where necessary challenge male peers.
• Provide bias and inclusive leadership training to male and female employees so they all understand how bias shows up in the workplace and how to lead more inclusively.
• Encourage senior male leaders to diversify their pool of proteges to include women whom they can sponsor for key opportunities.
