Even today, inequality remains a major roadblock in the life of a female working professional who aspires to be a leader. This is due to the climb up the corporate ladder – it is very different for men and women. Such a challenging road can stifle a woman’s desire to strive for a leadership position. The very fact that there are fewer women in leadership organizations sustains the perception that attaining leadership is hard for women. But to combat this, umpteen organizations are offering coaching and mentorship to help women emerge as leaders.
Empowering Women In The Workplace = Empowering the Workplace
It is pretty shocking to know that a majority of working professionals cannot comprehend why women should be empowered and should be pushed into the leadership domain. Well, if women aren’t being empowered as leaders, you are missing out on nearly half of the candidates who can help your organization thrive. To empower these very women leaders, organizations need to consider the benefits of coaching and mentoring.
How do Coaching and Mentoring Help?
Many of today’s successful women’s leadership in pharma and healthcare are accredited to mentoring programs and coaching. These leaders are also often willing to mentor up-and-coming women leaders as well. In fact, this is one of the major aims of the Ladies Who Led.
We believe that mentoring gives women the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and grow their network. It also gives an example of the possibilities that are out there for them. Compiled below are some of the most lucrative benefits of mentoring and coaching:
- Reducing Bias in Your Organization.
To reduce bias in your organization, offer coaching and develop policies that level the playing field. These policies can include choosing a more diverse group of high-potential individuals to participate in your leadership mentoring program. This gives women a chance to push forward in their careers where traditionally men have been more present. You can also encourage your women leaders to take on mentees. This act of “paying it forward” encourages women in ministry leadership and other male-dominating domains.
- Eliminating the Stereotypes.
Stereotypes towards women aren’t just exhibited by men, but also by other women. Although both genders typically hold the same views, they don’t always realize it. By eliminating these factors completely, there can be a greater sense of equality throughout your organization.
Mentoring can help you give all employees the same access to opportunities. This not only results in eliminating gender in the mentoring relationship by simply matching mentors and mentees by qualifications but also helps in fostering diversity in leadership.
- Promoting Conversations About Inequality.
The conversations about gender inequality are happening more than ever. It’s important to consider these facts when starting a mentoring program for your organization. All people want to feel like they are valued and being given the same opportunities, regardless of their gender. Mentoring programs can help to facilitate these conversations within your organization. Mentoring gives women a voice to advocate for themselves. It also gives them a mentor who can listen and take their feedback seriously. By expressing their concerns in an empathetic ear, women are able to create change within the organization for the better. So, you are just a conversation away from empowering women in leadership in your organization.
Ladies Who Lead has years of experience creating mentoring programs to empower female leaders. If you want to know more about our mentorship, reach out to us now.
