4 Strategies to Empower Women in the Workplace

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In today’s competitive business landscape, diversity and inclusion are more important than ever. Because? TO diverse workforce encourages innovation and creativitycontributing to a more equitable and inclusive society while allowing your business to pivot and remain flexible in an ever-changing environment.

As Cymbiotika’s Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, I am proud to be a leader in this effort and my mission is to empower the women on our team and advocate for gender equality. Using these strategies at my own company has helped create a work environment that empowers our female team members to lead more successful lives, both personally and professionally. Adding them to your own business strategies can help you do the same.

Related: 3 Ways to Empower and Inspire the Next Generation of Women Leaders

1. Encourage growth and development through mentoring

Nurturing the growth and development of my team, particularly the incredible women among us, is a responsibility that I not only wholeheartedly accept, but also take very seriously. Tutorships uplifts and empowers women, helps them better recognize their own innate power and potential, guides them to harness their unique strengths to achieve their career goals, and turns them into confident leaders who are ready to inspire others, creating a cycle that closer to a more equitable future.

Have you had a mentor who supported in your growth as a business leader? Maybe you have one today. Mentoring holds a deeply significant place in my own personal and professional development.

Consider your own personal tutoring style, and learn the benefits of that style (and any potential downsides). My personal mentoring style is gentle, as my goal is to provide guidance, encouragement, and advice to help my mentees more gracefully navigate the incredible variety of challenges and opportunities they are likely to encounter in the workplace. If you are also dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where women can grow and prosper, providing mentoring opportunities for your team is the best place to start.

2. Foster growth through connections

We all need a safe haven to share stories and connect on a deeper level. Workshops and other team building events and meetings are a great way to unite women and help cultivate a culture of trust, inclusion, and empathy so that women can discover their common ground, connect, and develop deep and meaningful relationships with people they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.

In addition to helping women bond with their teammates and build camaraderie, these uplifting workshops and events also serve as a vibrant platform for personal and professional development. growthand participation in these activities presents women with a golden opportunity to develop new skills, expand their networks and inspire each other by sharing valuable life lessons.

3. Cultivate a culture of support and inclusion

There is immense value in providing women with opportunities to develop their talents and skills by making internal recruitment and growth a priority. TO more inclusive environment helps ensure that all employees are valued, respected and genuinely supported.

Encourage open communication and collaboration among team members to foster a warm and uplifting environment. By investing in the professional development of your employees and equipping them with the necessary resources and opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, such as training programs, workshops and seminars, employees will not only see your company’s commitment to their success, but also they will be more likely to reach their full potential.

Related: Don’t sit at the table, turn it around. A Reflection for Women Entrepreneurs.

4. Become a champion for equality and social change

As a business owner, you have a powerful platform to promote policies who defend women’s rights. What are you passionate about? Your passion can help guide you toward initiatives that are meaningful to both your organization and you personally.

For example, I am a passionate advocate for promoting women’s leadership, and I demonstrate that passion in tangible ways by supporting policies that improve the health and well-being of women, such as Helping Hands for Afghans, a nonprofit agency I founded that benefits Afghan refugees through as they resettle into their new lives. Through advocacy and philanthropic work, my company becomes a more supportive and inclusive environment for women to achieve their goals.

Investing in your team and creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for women gives them room to grow and achieve goals both inside and outside of the workplace. By advocating for policies that promote gender equality and by using your platform to raise awareness on crucial issues, you can help contribute to a more equal and just society.

Making mentoring, career development opportunities, and advocacy a part of your company culture is the key to empowering women, or any other historically disadvantaged or underrepresented group, in the workforce.

What change can you make today to make your company a more inclusive and empowering place?