Secrets of Survival in a Women's Collective: effective survival

A terrarium of like-minded women, a breeding ground for gossip and intrigue, a chicken coop with endless discussions about men and diets. Even today, women's professional communities are faced with such prejudices. Whether there is some truth in these judgments, and under what conditions “a team in heels” can become successful, told an expert on psychological safety in the workplace Irina Prosviryakova.

According to the research of audit-consulting corporation “Ernst & Young” only 7% of employees of both sexes want to see a woman in the role of their manager, 63% of respondents prefer to work in a team with a balanced gender composition. These statistics are partly influenced by unfounded myths about female teams, which are firmly entrenched in our consciousness.

Excessive conflict. There is an opinion that female collectives are often subject to scandals and intrigues. In fact, these phenomena can occur in any teams. The ways of resolving conflicts depend on corporate culture and management skills rather than on the ratio of men and women in the company.

Low productivity. People often hold the false belief that women's teams are less effective because of constant discussions and emotions. In reality, attention to detail and communication can contribute to more thorough and better task completion.му и качественному выполнению задач.

Lack of leadership skills. It is believed that women's teams have fewer strong leaders. In fact, women leaders demonstrate no less managerial and organizational skills than men. It is the approach to leadership development that matters, not the gender of the person.

A little Fly in the ointment of the women's realm

There is no doubt that women's teams can carry potential risks if not managed properly.

“Teams in heels” are often characterized by higher emotional involvement, which often leads to increased stress and conflict. Often violent reactions to workplace moments make rational decision-making difficult.

Competition in women's companies can take more covert forms, such as being ignored, excluded from group discussions, or gossiped about. These behaviors lead to disagreement and undermine team spirit.

Women in the workplace find it more difficult to give and accept constructive criticism. Because of their high emotional involvement, feedback can be perceived as a personal insult, making it difficult to develop and improve work processes.

How to turn a female staff into an effective team

Form a safe environment. Create an environment where each female employee can freely express her thoughts and ideas without fear of negative repercussions. This will increase trust and engagement.

Implement programs to support the team emotionally. Tools like coaching and mentoring can help manage stress and increase job satisfaction.

Develop communication skills. Organize regular interpersonal communication trainings, train the team in active listening, conflict resolution and feedback. Hold regular meetings with the team to discuss current tasks, successes and challenges. This will improve communication within the team and increase team productivity.

Encourage collective decision-making. Consider different points of view and encourage female employees to come up with their own ideas and suggestions. These tactics will stimulate creative thinking, increase engagement and improve work processes.

Develop leadership skills. Actively support and promote women in leadership positions. This will help create role models and inspire other female employees to excel.

Create a comfortable work environment. If possible, offer flexible schedules and remote work formats for women on the team. Regularly recognize and reward female employees for their achievements.

By following these rules, your women's team will become an effective and cohesive team that will achieve high results. You can also be inspired by examples of famous women's companies.

Experience of Avon, Johnson & Johnson and Natura Siberica

The international cosmetics company Avon is known for its successful women's teams and audience focus.

Avon actively promotes the direct sales model, allowing women to earn and build their own business. This approach provides flexible work opportunities, which is especially attractive for female employees who combine work and family.

Avon supports charitable programs to fight breast cancer and domestic violence, which increases employee and customer loyalty.

One of the largest pharmaceutical and healthcare companies in the world, Johnson & Johnson, also cares about its female team. Some of the interesting lifehacks include the following.

Johnson & Johnson offers various programs to develop female leaders, including mentoring and professional development initiatives. In addition, the company develops projects aimed at women's health and well-being.

Natura Siberica cosmetics company organizes regular trainings and seminars to develop professional and leadership skills of its female employees. The company also offers flexible working conditions and actively supports charitable initiatives to improve the living conditions of women in the regions where it operates.