In so many industries, men outnumber women. In STEM fields, it’s especially common to have a small number of women in the workforce. That’s a problem because teams without women are missing out on some truly incredible benefits.
Women have different skills and perspective than men, and it’s this diversity that is so powerful, especially in data marketing. With the rise of the women’s movement, businesses need to be aware of their work culture and make an effort to be more diverse. This shouldn’t be something you have to do, though. It’s something you should want to do, for your business, its values, and your bottom line.
Men need to expand their thinking, change, and support women in sharing their ideas and becoming an integral part of every team. Here’s why you should bring women on to your data marketing team and help to close the gender gap.
Women Can Drive New Success and Innovation
Groupthink kills innovation, and it’s most likely to happen when all members of the team have similar backgrounds and perspectives. A group of white men might all agree with each other and stay the best of friends, but new ideas will probably be rare. When given an opportunity, women use their unique perspectives and experiences to innovate and generate new and exciting ideas.
Women often work with more care, and will look at the data from all angles. Their ability to empathize with others can help them understand what an audience wants, and they are often able to pick up insights their male colleagues missed. Data backs this up ‘although 75% of businesses are owned by men, firms owned by women have higher revenues and create more jobs. Plus, women were found to be more effective in senior leadership roles and are even more ambitious.
Your Business is Defined by Your Team and Employees
Anyone looking at your business from the outside will make assumptions about it based on your team. Diversity is important, as are the characteristics you look for in candidates. It’s important to hire based on qualities like passion, resourcefulness, and ability to collaborate on a team. Men that you hire should be team players who are willing to support both their male and female colleagues.
Businesses must be Willing to Close the Gender Gap
Despite all the discussions we’ve seen in male-dominated industries, not much has really changed when it comes to closing the gender gap. Average pay for women is still lower than it is for men. Women made 83% of a man’s wages in 2004, but in 2015, they made 76%. Businesses need to step up and do their part in closing the gender gap and fighting for equality.
Women roles are continuing to grow in new areas of business. Companies in industries like technology and engineering are wanting to hire more women and create more equality. Often, women who are analytical and intelligent are able to do very well working in these fields. Even if women don’t have the necessary educational background or skillset, there are many opportunities to excel in managerial and leadership roles too. Businesses are actively considering new types of candidates and wanting to have both men and women on teams.
Women Innately Have Better Leadership Skills Than Men
Women are natural communicators, which makes them ideally suited to leadership roles. Their ability to empathize, connect, and self-regulate helps them to manage different personalities effectively. People enjoy working with women, and diversity in leadership makes a positive difference within a company. Companies can take the initiative to help women take on larger roles, give them new opportunities, and allow them to leverage their talents. Men and women alike must be willing to make changes and embrace a more diverse and open culture that supports women in the workplace and helps them to take on new responsibilities.
Women are Different Than Men, and Can Join Forces
No business can grow long-term without adapting, changing, and innovating. Women have different strengths and perspectives than men, and those strengths can shake up a business’s status quo in the right way. Having women on your team will help your organization expand and usher in new strategies.
Women can help teams adopt new behaviors, work better together, and create a fantastic work culture. When men and women support one another in the workplace and understand each other’s unique talents, organizations grow and thrive. Utilizing women’s strengths on your data marketing team will help your business stand out and help you reach new levels of success.