How leaders and male employees can be allies in creating a gender-equal workplace

If you want to see gender equality in your organization, you must go beyond policies and give practical, tangible support to women.

Much of that support needs to come from individual leaders and employees. But how? Here are five tips to inspire you to take action.

1. Actively seek out women’s expertise, ideas and feedback.

Are you searching for a new team member? Or looking for a subject matter expert to give a statement? Or perhaps doing a survey? Make sure to actively search for, and include, women.

This is by no means a new strategy. Still, it is an important and powerful one. Including female perspective(s) has the power to change a culture–and prevent a needless crisis. By consciously identifying, inviting and displaying women’s knowledge, skills and points of view, we normalize women’s participation in every part of the organization. Just like (white) men’s participation is already obvious and undisputed.

2. Make space – verbally and physically.