Create a Corporate Environment that Embraces Gender Diversification

Create a Corporate Environment that Embraces Gender Diversification How  to Create A Corporate Environment That Embraces Gender Diversification   The business world is  long  overdue for a wakeup call, especially  when it comes to understanding the value of  the  blended perspective  that comes  from  having  both men and women  in top executive positions.  We  should not need to enact laws  to protect  social  classes, ethnicities,  and genders in the work  place. Unfortunately, we have these  laws  because there are still people who choose to not hire,  or value,  people  because of  their age, gender, ethnicity,  or relationship status. I interviewed Deanna Latson, co-founder and chief product officer of  ARIIX, an international opportunity company that promotes healthy toxic-free living,  to learn how corporations can create work environments  that embrace gender diversification. As the only female among  eight  board members, she recommends the following tips.   1 Allow employees to have their own personalities and opinions   Creating an environment where a variety of opinions and perspectives are accepted and welcomed is essential.  If you are sitting at a conference table where  everyone is agreeing  with what  you  have to  say,  it is not  necessarily a good thing.  Unique perspectives and opinions  create  balance. If you notice an  imbalance in your work culture,  hire  more people  with  diverse backgrounds  and allow them the freedom to express their thoughts and opinions.  The more diversification  in the work place,  the more fruitful  the results. 2 Understand that  women and men  each  have unique perspectives   Men have their strengths  and positive traits,  but women have their own unique strengths and perspective  too. Think of it this way: you have  several executives sitting around a conference table â€" men on one side and women on the other. In the middle of that table is a cube that has many different sides and angles. The men have one view of the cube from their side of the table, while the women are seeing from an entirely different vantage point. Both are only viewing  a  small piece of a much larger picture. Each perspective is equally valuable and  when  combined  create a synergy of ideas and insight  that is  much stronger. In her own words, Latson adds, “Is one female board member enough to make a difference? Of course!  Looking back at  the  cube analogy, if  the men are looking at their side of the cube, and I’m seeing the other side, we double our ability to tackle the same situation successfully.”   3 Place equal value on the feminine   “I’m very fortunate to be part of a company where my views as a woman are valued,” Latson added.  â€œThe experiences and unique insight we bring are essential. Women have a lot of  purchasing power in the marketplace, so it makes sense that women should have a prominent role in the businesses that serve them. Be yourself and bring your unique perspective to the table. Recognize that the contributions you make to your organization are real, valuable,  and okay to put out there. If there is  one  message  I want women to remember, it is  that being themselves in the business world is a very good thing.  Your insights and perspective matter!” Ignorance,  gender inequality, bigotry, it all comes down to the fact that  humans flock to like-minded people. So often  corporations hire employees that are just like the brand, but then you end up with  an  imbalance of perspective.  Latson said she feels  fortunate because  she is surrounded by  people  who recognize the benefits of  gender diversification  and  it makes her  stronger.       4 Promote more women to leadership positions   There is a noticeable lack of female role models in many businesses today. This has the unfortunate tendency to make women feel like they have to assume male characteristics because that is what they see being rewarded  and promoted. “I’m a woman in a top executive position,” said Latson. “The reality is that it can be lonely  at the top. More women need to be in positions of authority and be given the opportunity and resources to inspire, mentor, and lift up other women around them.”   The traditional, single-perspective business model  is fading away. Those  corporations that still follow  that  model are frozen in the past. Today’s entrepreneurial companies, led by both men and women, are shaping a new business world  that is heading in the right direction.   5 Create leadership teams that mirror the diversity of the community your company serves   How can a company  effectively  serve  a diverse consumer base without having  a  diverse perspective in their organization? Are five men going to make a great skin care product for 40-year-old women? They might think so, but  honestly  they are going to miss a lot of the finer points. Would you go to a man and ask them to tell you what it is like to have a baby? Again, they might be able to give you the basics, but they are definitely going to miss many, many of the  details! “Those of us in a position to make a difference need to create more diverse leadership teams,” said Latson. “We need to embrace the variety of emotions, instincts, intensity, and intuition women bring to the table. Our unique perspective as women is so critical and necessary in today’s business world, especially in positions of leadership. If there are no women in c-suite roles, who is going to advocate hiring more females?” Join Dana  Manciagli’s  Job Search Master Class  now  and get the most comprehensive job search system available!