Gender bias and discrimination remain a chronic problem in the workplace.
Women are as ambitious as men early in their careers, but they are more likely to experience microaggressions, take on additional unpaid labor, and face other barriers to their advancement, according to research LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company.
To achieve true gender equality, more men need to be allies in the workplace.
Yale lecturer and best-selling author Joanne Lipman says Allyship is critical to fostering an inclusive, welcoming and fair office culture.
When women are able to thrive in the workplace, men benefit too: Men who work with women and leverage the talents of diverse teams outperform their peers, rely on report.
According to Lippman, here are five things men can do right now to support their female colleagues:
‘Break Breaker’
Several studies have found that men who speak and interrupt more often than women.
Being interrupted may seem like a small thing, but it’s a powerful strategy for maintaining status and power in the workplace.
In work meetings, women may feel pressure to keep silent when interrupted, rather than risk damaging their reputation by speaking up, Lippman said.
This is when men step in to help. “Listen to whether your female colleagues are being interrupted, and then interrupt the interrupter,” says Lippman. “Look directly at them and say, ‘You know, (insert name of a colleague who was interrupted here) is talking, and I’d love to hear her finish her thoughts.'”
Celebrating women’s ideas
Studies have shown that women get less credit for teamwork than men.
“Women will say something in a meeting and be met with a blank face or a shrug,” Lippman said. “And then two minutes later a man will repeat exactly what she said and be overwhelmed by the thought.” commended.”
To make sure your female colleagues are praised for their ideas and that they don’t get lost in discussions, Lippman recommends using a technique called enlarge. “As their ally, you repeated what she said during pauses in the meeting and called her by name,” she said.
Look for “Blow Buddies”
Women are often reluctant to brag about their achievements in the workplace.when they brag, often Lipman says this can provoke a negative reaction from the recipient, who may view the woman as “rude” or “pushy.”
She encourages men to pair up with their female colleagues and become “brag buddies,” scheduling regular coffee chats (whether weekly or quarterly) where you each talk about your accomplishments and reflect on things you’re proud of.
take paternity leave
Another step men can take to help level the playing field for women in the workplace, if they have access to benefits, is taking paternity leave.
“It’s not just helpful for your partner and your female colleagues, because women are more likely to take parental leave and be primary caregivers,” Lipman explains. “It can help you better understand and understand our reality. “
Paternity leave is good for dads, too: Men taking paternity leave report stronger bonds According to the ACLU, people who spend time with their children are more likely to be healthy than those who are not.
“Letting women decide what’s best for their careers”
Lippman recalls an experience early in her career when she was offered a promotion but turned it down because she was a new mom struggling to balance parenting with her existing job responsibilities.
As Lippman recalls, she was never punished for her decision—instead, her manager continued to push her for promotions. About five years later, Lipman was ready to take on more responsibility at work and applied for the manager job her then-boss said he was hiring.
“It’s very, very important for women to decide what’s best for their careers, rather than assuming what’s best for them,” Lipman said. “You’d be surprised how many people say, like, ‘Oh, Joanne just had a baby and she doesn’t want to take on extra responsibilities.'”
The takeaway: Don’t punish a female colleague for turning down an opportunity, and don’t make assumptions about what she wants to do with her career.
“It’s the best way you can be an ally to the women you work with,” Lipman says. “Give them every opportunity to take charge of their careers.”
Don’t Miss: Want to Get Smarter and More Successful With Money, Work, and Life? Sign up for our new newsletter!
Check:
30 uncontrollable biases hold women back at work: ‘They’re never quite right’, new study says
In nearly half of marriages, women now earn more than or as much as their husbands
How women are redefining ambitions to build happier, more successful careers: ‘It wasn’t worth sacrificing my mental health’
