Women Are Leaders of Mindfulness at Work—Here’s Why

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This article first published in Mindful by Misty Pratt on March 8, 2023

The latest research shows that employees are happier in their jobs when they’re led by a woman, but experts say that being an effective leader has more to do with trust than with gender.

Women are shaping the future of leadership and transforming the workplace. Compared to low representation in the 1970s, women now outnumber men in the workforce and hold 41% of managerial roles.

“We’ve seen improvements,” says Caitlin Sockbeson, Assistant Professor of Management at the Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University. But when Sockbeson examines trends in upper levels of management, “it’s not looking quite as rosy.” Women remain vastly underrepresented at the highest corporate levels, to say nothing of the disparities in other industries, like the trades. And the percentage of women of color in executive leadership roles is even lower than that of white women.

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Nine Tips for Being a Male Ally at Work

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Here are best practices for supporting diversity and inclusion at work.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our work lives, particularly for women. As of January 2021, over 2.3 million women had left the workforce in the U.S. during the pandemic, leaving only 57% of women working or looking for work—the lowest rate since 1988. The pandemic seems to be setting back many of the gains that those who identify as women have made in the workplace in the past several decades.

This hurts women, businesses, and society. According to a 2012 study of 1,500 companies, “female representation in top management leads to an increase of $42 million in firm value.” Female leaders seem to be particularly important for companies thriving on innovation. Notably, the more women occupying a company’s C-suite and corporate boards, the better its sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

One pathway toward creating a culture of diversity and belonging is to empower allies at work.… READ MORE...

6 Ways to Lead Courageously in Uncertainty

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Now more than ever, we need leaders who are able to act courageously, adapt quickly, and be willing to take a stand.

As a leadership development consultant and executive coach, I’ve specialized in helping leaders navigate crisis situations, re-organizations, embracing change, and courageous leadership.

In my work with hundreds of leaders and many different organizations from LinkedIn, Pixar, Genentech, Clif Bar, Bank of the West, and high growth start-ups, I’ve discovered there are a few internal “inner game” qualities that support leaders to thrive during challenging times. The cultivation of these 6 leadership qualities can make a leader out of anyone.

Be Present

In uncertain times and when big changes unfold, it is important to stay grounded and present. Many of us are feeling distracted and we can bring our attention to what is most important by concentration practices. Take life one day at a time and keep asking yourself:

What can I control?… READ MORE...