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Brain Circuits
Women in leadership: boardroom barriers and how to address them
Getting more women into the senior executive pipeline remains a considerable challenge. It begins with identifying the barriers and then addressing them. Here’s how it’s done by boards and aspiring leaders.
The barriers
When it comes to robust decision-making and organizational success, two main causes of failure are often observed in boards:
Lack of diversity of thought
What truly matters in boardrooms is not simply gender diversity, but diversity of thought – lacking it can lead to catastrophic decisions. The most effective boards demonstrate real diversity of thought and celebrate diversity.
Lack of psychological safety
When board members feel unable to speak truth to power or challenge ideas, it can also be extremely detrimental to an organization’s health and performance.
Boards: 7 steps to overcoming the barriers
The following processes can help advance women in leadership:
- Identify talented women early in their careers.
- Raise their aspirations.
- Develop targeted skill-building opportunities and strong support systems.
- Provide flexible onboarding programs and maternity leave.
- Establish mentoring and role-modeling initiatives.
- Identify and address conscious and unconscious biases.
- Put effective performance metrics in place to ensure fair evaluation.
Leaders: 5 ways to make progress
The following behaviors will help individuals surmount the barriers:
1. Lead through impact
True leadership is about impact, not position, and transcends authority. Effective leadership stems from vision, action, and the ability to inspire others. It’s possible to lead and create significant change even without formal authority or titles.
2. Persist
When breaking through the glass ceiling in corporate settings, persistence and resilience are key. The ability to maintain focus and energy in the face of challenges is a hallmark of effective leadership.
3. Adopt a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability
A learning mindset and agility are crucial. The ability to innovate, experiment, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances is what sets successful leaders apart.
4. Lead by example
Leading by example is essential. It builds credibility, inspires others, and creates a culture of shared responsibility and commitment.
Key takeaway
By addressing the challenges head-on and leveraging the unique skills that women bring to leadership roles, organizations can build more resilient, innovative, and successful teams at all levels and maintain a healthy pipeline for the future.
Authors
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