5 ways to set a gender diversity agenda

It is important for leadership to support the cause for gender diversity, as well as drive continuous governance around this to keep the momentum going. Brinda Dasgupta has suggestions from experts on how leaders can set a gender diversity agenda for their organisations.

1 Become A Role Model
Organisational leaders need to uphold the idea of a diversified workplace. "Leaders should become role models for others in the company in bringing about a homogeneous working atmosphere," says Dilpreet Singh, HR, IBM IndiaSouth Asia. Organisational management should be committed to the cause and act as advocators, says Rachna Mukherjee, CHRO, Schneider Electric India.

2 Cascade It Down
Line sponsorship at the highest levels of the organisation and a cascade thereof is extremely crucial to driving a gender diversity agenda, as is a consistent management framework and cadence. "It is a good idea to assign numerical targets for representation across levels and to link incentives to diversity goals," says Singh.

3 Make Workplace Changes
Besides driving the gender diversity agenda at all levels, organisations should also look at making physical changes to the workplace. "Companies should look at daycare and creche facilities, as well as comfortable workstations for expectant and nursing mothers," says Mukherjee.

4 Take A Holistic View
"It is crucial for organisations to have different kinds of initiatives in place to enable the professional and work-life integration journey for women employees. It is also important to lay strict emphasis on ensuring that women in the workforce have flexibility for their various needs," says Singh.

5 Educate Managers
A fundamental of driving a gender diversity agenda is to sensitise managers on the importance of inclusion, handling a diverse team, and the advantages of female talent, says Mukherjee. "This creates a motivating and progressive workplace where women can perform to the best of their abilities."