Over the last 10 years, I have seen companies taking measures to have a healthy gender ratio by including more women in the work force. I have proactively driven this with my managers and for every opening, we made it a point to see if we can improve and include women into the teams to aid inclusiveness.
I found that some myths and some genuine worries of absenteeism on account of marriage, pregnancy and child care usually stop managers from this effort. A small push and small steps at team level, department level & across business verticals all come together to achieve this goal.
Companies modified policies that allow women to come back after an extended maternity break, supporting them when they need it the most. And many of these initiatives have been rolled out by founders, CEO’s and HR heads, a good ratio of them, men.
The fact that women are now visible in the top management teams, although the numbers are still low, is proof of how these initiatives have helped organisations achieve results on this front. A conscious goal, dedicated effort in that direction, reviewing milestones achieved and feedback for course correction has made these small but significant steps happen.
Women help transform organisations with their different and unique perspectives, insights, skills and talent which adds to the way a company and its employees think, feel and behave. They contribute and complement in building a robust environment that is geared to deliver success across leadership, strategy and execution. Let us give more power to their wings and see them fly higher.
(excerpts from the book Silver Sparrow & other poems)
Pine not for the special day
but for days, normal
that come each day of the year
where it is not a box, ticked
but a heartfelt acceptance
of respect, of opportunities and equivalence
of not gender but despite
of not bias, but the magic of being
of women shedding preference and privilege
of man and woman going beyond biology.
