Despite significant progress in changing perceptions of women in professional settings, the underrepresentation of female leaders in business remains a pressing issue. On International Women’s Day, it is important to recognise the transformative potential of women in leadership roles and how training, coaching and mentoring can support them.
In the UK , a longstanding gender disparity persists. Statistics reveal that women comprise only 38% of senior leadership positions and continue to encounter a persistent gender pay gap. However, research conducted by The Chartered Management Institute indicates that merely one-fifth of senior managers and leaders proactively champion women for significant projects, roles, or promotions.
The 2023 Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org reveals that while women’s representation in senior leadership has shown improvement, progress remains painfully slow still for women of colour who face additional barriers. Much of this comes down to awareness and education. Professional development training can support women to overcome the barriers that hold them back.
Here are some ideas to make the workplace more equitable for women
Mentorship, Coaching and Training Programmes: Training programs for female leaders aim to develop essential skills such as leadership and management, negotiation, executive presence, strategic thinking, networking, and work-life balance. Our coaches are experienced in the challenges for women in leadership and come from varied backgrounds and sectors. We have developed a course called Women in Leadership which explores the complex issues that women face in the workplace and helping participants to build resilience.
Wellbeing Workshops and Seminars: Organise workshops and seminars such as stress management, mental health awareness, and strategies for balancing career and personal life.
Look at courses on Resilience, Mindfulness and Work Life Balance.
Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer flexible work arrangements, including work from home options and flexible hours, to accommodate employees managing health conditions or caregiving responsibilities. According to Close the Gap flexible working is crucial for women to effectively manage their professional commitments alongside their caregiving duties.
Access to Healthcare Resources: Provide access to healthcare resources and support services, including employee assistance programmes , a robust menstruation and menopause policy, and referrals to specialists as needed. Our course on Menopause in the Workplace can help support staff with workplace challenges.
Inclusive Policies and Practices: Implement policies and practices that promote inclusivity and support employees with health conditions, such as reasonable accommodations and support for maternity and parental leave and those with caring responsibilities. We run courses on Disabilities Awareness and Neurodiversity in the Workplace.
You can find more ideas on supporting the professional development of your staff by downloading our Training Catalogue from the link below.
Sources
https://www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-and-insights/professional-practice/gender-equity/
