Are We Gender-diverse And Inclusive Enough?

How important is a gender balanced eco-system in the world today, especially organisations? Diversity and inclusion are becoming a popular theme in organisation worldwide. However, very few companies understand and invest in comprehensive long-term solutions. Despite efforts, the mindset in terms of integrity and gender sensitivity in large organisations is still dismal and the challenges remain in terms of limiting beliefs of men and women both.

Dr Alan Ritcher, President QED Consulting and creator of The Global Diversity Game, an award-winning training tool, touches upon this very important issue and elaborates on the fact that there aren't enough organisations in this 21st century having women representations, "A single woman is considered just a token in a company's board and her voice is unheard. However, there is a critical mass notion where 3 women together in the same scenario, becoming no issue".

Dr Alan, having worked with global companies states that Gender Intelligence is required at a priority which means understanding the differences and similarities between both the genders, bring better adaptability and inclusiveness. "Companies tend to gain with inclusivity and gender diversity as the decision making in such organisations improves. The leadership is balanced, risks are minimised and there is a superior financial performance".

Research brings in some hard facts. Companies with at least one female board member outperformed those with no women on board by 25%. 215 fortune companies showed correlation between better balance of men and women in leadership positions and high profitability. "In 19 years of study, out of 500 fortune companies, only 250 survived. Companies like JP Morgan, RBS, pharmaceutical and retail companies have come a long way but sustainability is very important for them in term of gender diversity and inclusiveness".

Trump's engaged in an argument against Hilary during the campaigns that 'Women can't survive in businesses'. Dr Alan says how dishearting and shocking it was to witness, "People vouched for the same, which was sad and showed the amount of unawareness people have in terms of gender intelligence, inclusivity and integrity".

There is a limiting belief that women cannot hold positions involving strategic decision making. Dr Alan says this is an unconscious mindset that is prevalent worldwide. "A pilot is always a male. This is a common unconscious mindset that people have. Women can be as much strategic as men in decision making".

"Training plays a very important role to change the mindsets and conversations need to happen. Women bring in more creativity in an organisation which is as critical as strategy of an organisation", says Dr Niru Kumar, a medical expert and Gender Diversity Consultant, who have been working with various organisations in India and abroad in an effort to bring in more awareness regarding gender diversity. She says companies like American Express, PepsiCo, Vodafone, Walmart have achieved measurable tangible results in this regard.

There is still a long way to go and a lot of ground work that needs to be covered. It is no shortcut and will happen in its due course with conversations taking place across companies and their board rooms, according to Dr Niru.

If we touch upon the main challenges that hinder women reaching higher positions, Dr Alan states how it is tough for women as there are not enough models for them at the top to look upto. "Most men come into workforce via networks. There I not enough networking for women in businesses worldwide. But the most important reason that hinders women reaching the top positions is the out and loud discriminations. Men seem to have the benefit of doubt and an unearned advantage everywhere which is not the same for women".

(BW Businessworld in association with Ask Insights, a consulting organisation, organised a workshop with Dr Alan Ritcher and Dr Niru Kumar, 'Diversity to Inclusion 2017 and beyond!')