Women leaders effectively foster resilience within their workplaces
In a groundbreaking study, Professor Carrie Spell-Hansson of Utah State University interviewed 24 women leaders who had ascended to senior positions, aiming to understand their experiences of disrespect in the workplace and how they responded. The research, while not specifically focusing on strategies for developing resilience, provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by women leaders and potential strategies for navigating these issues.
One key finding from the study is the importance of commanding respect. This involves seeing oneself as powerful and actively leaning into one's power. Successful women leaders often possess intrinsic characteristics and learned skills such as self-confidence, self-esteem, and resilience to navigate harsh workplace conditions.
Another critical strategy is building a support network. Seeking out and cultivating relationships with allies who can provide support and guidance is essential. Bystander training can be particularly impactful in preventing disrespectful behavior like bullying, harassment, and gender-based discrimination.
Practicing self-care is also crucial. Prioritizing physical, emotional, and mental well-being helps maintain resilience in the face of adversity. This can involve developing healthy coping strategies, such as mindfulness, exercise, or meditation, and engaging in continuous learning and professional development to enhance confidence and resilience.
Resilience is critical for successful women leaders and strengthening resilience is important for career advancement in all workplace settings, particularly those in less traditional female occupations and industries. Carrie Spell-Hansson defines resilience as "the individual's ability to adjust to adversity, maintain equilibrium, and retain or regain some sense of control over their environment and continue to move positively."
Disrespectful actions identified by Spell-Hansson's participants include being ignored, excluded, diminished, interrupted, disregarded, and overlooked. Employers can help combat these issues by making bystander training a critical element of developmental opportunities for all employees, encouraging them to advocate for themselves and others.
Moreover, employers can help employees build resilience by exhibiting appreciation for others' abilities, skills, knowledge, and perspectives. Organizational leaders can be strategic in crafting workplace cultures that are welcoming to all potential employees, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging open discussions.
Through theme analysis, Spell-Hansson discovered six mindsets and strategies that were foundational to the success of the interviewed women leaders, which can be used to develop resilience: self-awareness and emotional intelligence, building support networks, coping mechanisms and stress management, assertive communication, professional development, and addressing systemic issues.
Despite these challenges, more women today are searching for companies with cultures of inclusion and belonging for all individuals who seek to contribute in meaningful ways. Employers can play a pivotal role in creating such cultures, and women leaders can develop resilience to navigate disrespect in today's workplaces.
- Susan Madsen, a prominent scholar in the field of women's leadership, could further explore the strategies employed by successful women leaders like those interviewed by Professor Carrie Spell-Hansson, delving into their resilience-building practices in health-and-wellness and personal-growth.
- Science and research can play a significant role in shedding light on the systemic issues women leaders face in health-and-wellness, women's health, and business, allowing for more inclusive and diverse leadership within finance, careers, and education-and-self-development sectors.
- Susan Madsen, a renowned expert on diversity-and-inclusion, might investigate how bystander training can be implemented across businesses to foster a culture of respect and support for women leaders, thus ensuring a more equitable workplace environment for all.
- Building upon Professor Carrie Spell-Hansson's study, women leaders can collaborate on initiatives that focus on strengthening resilience in various domains of their lives, bolstering their leadership skills and advancing their careers.
- In striving for personal growth, people like Susan Madsen can encourage the promotion of leadership development programs that prioritize the well-being, resilience, and empowerment of women leaders in science, business, and various industries, contributing to a more diverse and equitable society.
