Ladies, if you’re listening to today’s On The Dot solo or with a good friend, I’ve got a little stress-relief exercise for you. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in and yell out your biggest work complaint. It could be, “I hate Secret Santa!” or, “Stop clearing your throat next to my cubicle, Kevin!” Seriously, try it. Heck, rant about it aloud. Get it out there. It feels good, right? Now, down a shot of espresso and belt out Katy Perry’s confidence-boosting anthem Roar as she sings, “Louder, louder than a lion ’cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar!”
WOMEN IN NUMBERS: 33 Percent
Despite your justifiable work grievances, you’re likely doing a better job than Kevin the throat clearer simply because you’re a woman. According to a recent Gallup study, women are generally more focused in the workplace than men, with the report showing female employees 33 percent engaged, compared with a 28 percent engagement rate for men. That’s pretty noteworthy, especially considering the more serious workplace obstacles women must deal with, like less pay, sexual harassment and out-right sexism. What’s the bottom line? If you’re looking for a loyal and engaged employee, hire a woman!
WOMAN TO WATCH: Eileen Scully, Founder of The Rising Tides
Today’s Woman to Watch is here to help us hard-working ladies take on our careers with confidence, proficiency and a little vivacious flair. Eileen Scully is the founder of a wonderful female-empowerment organization called The Rising Tides, whose entire goal is to make the workplace better for women.
With the mission to drive a work culture that supports women, regardless of life stage, and allows each of our boats to rise together, Eileen provides data-driven assessments about your company’s culture, complete with prioritized improvement strategies, as well as providing detailed workshops, facilitating team meetings focused on the topic of women in the workplace and offering loads of helpful resources.
This crusader worked for more than two decades at a research and advisory level, long witnessing female leaders taking on their male-dominated company culture, which drove her to start The Rising Tides. And her work has not gone unnoticed. In 2016, Eileen was invited by President Barack Obama to participate in the United State of Women, a summit focused on growing gender equality in the U.S.
But advocating for women is no simple feat. For instance, a team meeting focused on women in the workplace might be a tough sell if Kevin the throat clearer leads it after conducting only a quick Google search. But if a woman-led business offering data-supported research facilitates such a meeting, the results can change the company culture overnight.
From overarching company values to the nitty-gritty of co-worker conversations, Eileen has advice for everyone in the workplace. When a colleague tells an inappropriate joke about a woman, how should you respond? Eileen’s answer? Take the opportunity to correct him—gently but directly. By doing so, you’re helping to gradually influence your company culture to become more inclusive and diverse.
If you need a role model to remind you that, yes, you can take on sexism in the workplace, check out Eileen’s other venture, 52 Feminists, a blog on which she highlights one mighty feminist each week.
Ultimately, what The Rising Tides is all about is what we’re all about at On The Dot. While challenging sexist viewpoints in the workplace is a start, change cannot happen until a company takes it on as a whole, and we each have a responsibility to work to effect change. After all, as Eileen would surely say, a rising tide lifts all boats.
QUITE THE QUOTE
Words matter—period. As Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said:
“The next time you are about to call a little girl ‘bossy,’ say instead, ‘She has executive leadership skills.’ ”
This is Melinda Garvey signing off until next time. Remember, ladies, empowered women empower other women. Share On the Dot so more women can have a voice. Thanks for getting ready with us.
To learn more about our conversation, check us out at OnTheDotWoman.com and talk to us @OnTheDotWoman on Twitter and Instagram. We’d love to hear your voice.