Danielle Dobson – Breaking the Gender Code IWD 2023 and beyond
With more leaders valuing the business benefits of increased diversity, equity and inclusion and in particular women who represent half the population, now, more than ever it is important to expose, decode and recode the Gender Code.
What is the Gender Code?
It’s like a societal algorithm deeply embedded our culture.
A set of default beliefs, that create stereotypes and pigeonholes genders into a blue or pink box. There is a training program, expectations and rules that go with each of the boxes. We are punished or rewarded based on how well conform.
Why is this important to know about it?
The Gender Code left unchecked, creates big problems for everyone.
Individuals – sets high personal expectations and pressures to perform pressures like: perfectionism, mental load, impostor syndrome, busyness, hyper masculinity.
Leaders – creates unsupportive culture in pockets of the business impacting broader team performance, team members failing to step up to take on leadership positions reducing talent pools and increasing retention challenges, lower levels of psych safety impacting creativity, innovation, mental health & wellbeing. So, people are not getting the important work DONE
Businesses – impacts culture and can lead to disrespectful behaviour, brand and reputation damage, increased business risk, damage to the bottom line
What’s the solution?
A conversation with my 10 year old son, revealed that there is a way how together, we can break the Gender Code.
Working with leaders and their teams across the organisation in a way that is non-judgmental and inclusive for ALL is key.
Let’s face it, everyone has a code.
Using the business’ strategic, operational and people objectives, and the proven CARE framework we can build a unique PLAYBOOK. A playbook with simple, practical, adaptive strategies to build inclusive work environments where everyone feels they belong, and they are empowered to navigate the rapidly evolving world of work and relationships.
This then forms a platform for future generations of leaders and their teams to continue to achieve business and personal success by creating and building their own code. Businesses and their people can be transformed and prosper when they expose, decode and recode the Gender Code.