There’s certain industries that have far more males employed than women leaders, such as construction, manufacturing and technology. However, there has been a large increase of women in these industries, bringing in new ideas and helping with the continuous growth of businesses. Even more so if women are considered for leadership roles within these male-dominated industries, as they statistically outperform men in transformational leadership traits like empathy, collaboration and mentoring.
In this guide, we will further explore how women leaders can succeed in male-dominated industries, helping to take businesses within them to heights never seen before. Continue reading to find out more.
Benefits of Women Leadership
Fresh Perspectives and Innovation
Women leaders tend to focus on collaborative environments, increasing inclusivity and applying diverse life experiences to problem-solving. Unique lived experiences allow women to view challenges in multiple ways compared to men, which results in creative solutions that were never previously considered. They can also challenge conventional ways of thinking, as they identify overlooked consumer needs to help with forward-thinking business models.
The transport training industry has been positively impacted by this, with businesses like Lifft Group having a mix of male and female leaders to help see the company into the future. Their innovation has helped to gain business partnerships with some of the most recognised UK names, including Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Hovis, The Silver X Group, Alloga, Jack Moody Group and Bidcorp.
Improved Collaboration
Research shows groups with a higher proportion of women feature balanced speaking time, allowing more members to share ideas and use their skills. This means that every member of the team can be heard, allowing for the best ideas to be put forward and considered which can benefit every aspect of the business.
Empathetic leadership can also create psychological safety, meaning team members feel secure sharing creative ideas without fear of judgment. This can be crucial for industries like construction where every idea can be beneficial for improving building schedules and the overall design of projects.
Stronger Retention and Culture
Women have higher emotional intelligence than most men, meaning that leaders frequently excel at active listening and empathy. This can help to make employees feel comfortable, which reduces burnout and turnover for the most high demand industries where demands need to constantly be met. This will help with higher retention rates for businesses, so they are less likely to have to keep entering the employee market.
Prioritising personal wellbeing as female leaders is crucial to business success, as a happy workforce is more likely to perform than one that is unhappy. Women can set healthy boundaries between work and personal life, which can help to reduce the feeling of always being “on” while encouraging better concentration during working hours.
Measurable Performance
Increased female representation in executive roles within technology and manufacturing can lead to enhanced organisational performance and growth, as they will ensure that all performances are measured properly. This allows them to talk with employees about how they can improve, but in a manner that actively makes them want to adapt rather than it feeling like a telling off.
Women leader’s approach to giving feedback to their workforce tends to value empathy, mentoring and systemic awareness as key inputs that directly correlate with higher team engagement and business results.
Overcoming Systemic Barriers
Addressing Unconscious Bias
Male-dominated industries have long had the bias of creating boys club networks within their businesses with construction being a prime example of this. This can result in unhealthy working environments where members of the team don’t feel as though their emotional wellbeing is being cared for, which is why we are now seeing more businesses within this industry begin to employ women for leadership roles.
Structured Mentorship
Setting up strong mentorship programs helps make ambition normal and helps everyone feel like they belong. In the past, mentorship programs in male-dominated industries haven’t been very successful, as they just assume that novice workers should be able to make the quick transition. Whereas, female leaders actively help new employees make smoother transitions into the workplace by providing them with all the aid required to feel like a member of the team.
Transparent Career Pathways
Executive leaders play a primary role in establishing visible advancement tracks and fair evaluation standards, so when this is lacking, it can result in a workforce that doesn’t want to progress. To address this, organisations must implement clear performance metrics and regular progress reviews. Providing open access to leadership roadmaps ensures that all employees, regardless of gender, understand the necessary steps and skills required to advance within the company. This is something that women leaders actively want to introduce into their businesses.
Final Thoughts
Women leaders are becoming more prevalent in male-dominated industries, helping them to see things from a new perspective so they can make the changes needed to see further growth. Helping the workforce to become comfortable while improving their wellbeing is crucial for a business to succeed and women leaders realise this and more for the benefit of their company.
Author
Darcy Fowler
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