Gender diversity is key for success of business

No other topic has been debated in such great detail as that of men versus women. Numerous books have been printed on the battle between the two genders, including John Gary's much trumpeted Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. However, one of the questions in the minds of many people is whether the fight for gender equality has been successfully accomplished or is still ongoing. There is no doubt that the workplace continues to be male-dominated by substantial numbers, but women are eagerly marching forward and moving up the ranks to carve a niche for themselves by proving their competence to lead in management roles across numerous sectors.

Men and women have a diverse set of personality traits that are positive in their own right. Men tend to value power and proficiency. They are always trying to prove themselves by developing their power and leadership skills. On the other hand, women are paving the way for their empowerment. These viewpoints will remain unchanged and gender diversity will continue to be a hot topic in the world of business.

If we look at the status of women across the globe, we have to agree that women do not have equal rights. However, many societies and cultures have come a long way and have granted far more rights to women in the present than ever before. Professions that have been male-dominated in the past are seeing an evolution today, and women are increasingly taking on leadership positions. Women in the UAE, for instance, are continuously exploring different ways to embrace change and demonstrating it by owning and running approximately half of the small and medium-sized enterprises, according to the Ministry of Economy.

It is no secret that the UAE is a champion of women's empowerment in the workplace, and tops the Arab world in developing career opportunities for women and increasing their participation in the decision making process. Moreover, the country is currently leading the way for women empowerment in the region by constantly developing strategic plans and policies to promote gender equality.

In 2012, the UAE government made it mandatory for companies to appoint female directors on their boards and decided to employ eight new women ministers, making it one of the highest ministerial representation rates in the region. The UAE was also ranked first among 132 countries in the 'women treated with respect' indicator in the Social Progress Index 2015 report.

Through women's empowerment initiatives, the UAE aims to be among the top 25 countries in the world for gender balance by 2021. Today, women's participation in the UAE workforce makes up 66 per cent of public sector employees with 30 per cent of them in leadership positions, while 46.6 per cent of women aged 15 and older constitute the country's labour force.

The benefits of gender diversity at the workplace, especially in leadership positions, are critical to a company's success. Reducing the gender gap can not only increase the growth of the OECD economy by 12 per cent, but also positively affect the profitability and success of businesses by 2030.

Despite great progress made to bring about gender equality in the workplace in the last few decades, women continue to tolerate a heavier burden when it comes to work-life balance. A woman is not only a daughter, a sister, a wife and a caregiver, but also makes up half of the society and gives birth to the other half. She holds a full-time job during pregnancy without complaining, and combines a high-powered career with a family.

The UAE's latest initiative to support women in the workforce and offer them a sympathetic work environment that enables them to take care of their families by increasing the period of maternity leave from only one to three months for public sector workers is a step in the right direction. However, this initiative needs to be implemented across all private companies and flexible timing needs to be considered for working moms. The country has also taken into consideration the importance of part-time jobs in order to encourage more female participation in the workforce.

Gender equality in the UAE workplace has reached the same level as compared to women who work in Western countries with women facing "no gender bias when it comes to promotions", according to the Working Women in the Middle East and North Africa survey released by Bayt.com and YouGov. Nearly half of the women surveyed agreed that they were recruited and promoted later based solely on their qualifications and experience with gender preferences playing no role in the decision.

One of the most important things that a woman needs to take into consideration if she is looking to thrive in a male-dominated field is to stop comparing herself to others' accomplishments, especially men. Instead, she should focus on herself, by constantly learning and increasing her knowledge and sharpening her leadership skills. That is what will set a woman apart and help her excel at work. By focusing on the things that are within control, while adapting to those around her, will enhance the way a woman would perform in a business environment, and eventually make her the champion of her career.

The bottom line is that accomplishing and maintaining gender diversity at a workplace is essential for the continuous growth of the business and the country. Boosting female workplace participation in a country is a global economic and societal imperative, particularly for organisations who wish to perform at the highest levels.

The writer is senior executive officer and head of DIFC branch at The Access Bank UK. Views expressed are her own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.

Source: Khaleej Times