When the results of our annual Vaya Vision survey came in, I was a bit shocked, but not entirely surprised. We asked over 1,000 U.S. professionals questions about leadership development (LD) opportunities within their organizations, and their feedback painted a not-so-rosy outlook for women and diverse talent.
The survey revealed a significant gender gap in employee selection and participation in LD programs. When it comes to developing emerging leaders and high potential (HiPo) talent, the findings showed that white males appear to have several privileges over their female counterparts.
According to the Vaya Vision survey results:
The Implications of Inequity
As businesses struggle with the uncertainty of today’s job market, these findings are highly concerning. The fact that females and people of color are not given the same opportunity as men to fully develop their leadership skills has several consequences:
3 Tips to Nurture Emerging Leaders
So, you may be wondering, why am I so passionate about this topic? For several reasons. As the founder of the Vaya Group, I’m committed to our mission of helping organizations empower their HiPo employees to be future leaders. Also, as a business owner myself, I pride our firm on a highly talented, healthy balance of male and female executive consultants. They share my enthusiasm for equality and fairness in helping emerging leaders of all genders and races advance and succeed.
You can, too. You have the power to eliminate biases and make a real difference in developing the next generation of leaders. Here are three tips to guide your LD initiatives and to foster a thriving environment for all employees:
Overcoming inherent bias in LD selection and training is best eliminated through prevention. First, recognize that – although not intentional – it exists. Using independent assessments, identifying leadership potential early and supporting employees with personalized training are the best ways to ensure success – theirs and yours.
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For more information on the Vaya Vision survey, please visit: vayapath.com/vayavision.
For related content, check out our other blog: 4 Ways Women Can Propel Their Leadership Journey