Our expectations of leadership are masculine, when we evaluate men’s potential, we are much more likely to see them as a good fit. Women do not meet our masculine expectations, therefore the projection is never triggered.
This male bias in our cognitive processing of leadership potential is powerful. “Think manager, think male” means we can fail to see women’s leadership potential. In fact, research suggests that men and women behave very similarly in senior roles, but men routinely receive higher leadership ratings.
On today’s podcast, Lisa S. Kaplowitz, Executive Director at Rutgers Center for Women in Business will be joining us to discuss the harmful ways women have to change themselves to fit the ideal worker image, and organizations that devalue anyone who differs from it. In an article for Harvard Business Review entitled, 5 Harmful Ways Women Feel They Must Adapt in Corporate America Lisa and two co-authors share findings from their research, Lisa outlines what these adaptations are and why they are ultimately harmful.
She also leaves us with some actions to implement into our workplaces in order to bridge the gap in the devaluing of difference:
Action One: Be aware – Know what an ideal worker looks like when they show up in your workplace.
Action Two: Ask – Do not assume. Ask an employee how you can support them, what additional resources they might need and what help they may need to advance in their career or to get a project to completion.
Action Three: Ensure interactions are authentic, genuine and informal conversations.
Action Four: Give feedback. Honest feedback, without sugar coating. Allow feedback to be a conversation where all can have their say.
Rutgers Center for Women in Business
Lisa S Kaplowitz
The Power of Pressure: How To Make Challenging Times Work For You - Dane Jensen
Beer and Sexism: The Untold Story - Katie Muggli
Creating Psychological Safety at Work - Minda Harts & Jon Hicks
How To Engage The Next Generation of ChangeMakers - Melissa Kilby
Publishing: The Devaluing of Difference - Rebekah Borucki
Roe Vs Wade: Kelly Thomson and Anna Cronin-Scott
The Authority Gap - Mary Ann Sieghart
Closing The Gender Gap in Innovation - Danielle Kayembe
Why It’s Time To Ditch Quotas: Dr Ted Sun
The Friendship Gender Gap: Smiley Poswolsky
Meet the Two Women Behind 25 Years of The Daily Show
Dear White Friends : Melvin J. Gravely, II
Your Permission Slip: Managing Mental Health at Work - Melissa Doman
Diversity in Dance : Ingrid Silva
Women Don't Get The Same Feedback As Men And It’s Hurting Their Advancement - Dr. Laura Hamill
Overcoming White Feminism. How to be an Anti Racist Ally : Sophie Williams
Great minds don't all think alike: Rob Austin
Welcome To The Post Pandemic Workplace - Anna Meller
Heard of the Gender Pain Gap? - Dr Jen Peña
The Future of Leadership - Leah Weiss
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