Gone are the days when women were only expected to spend their lives within their houses. Women have come a long way in making their mark as successful professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

The number of women in senior leadership positions has increased significantly. In 2019, 15% of all CEOs and Managing Directors were women. In 2021, the number increased to 26%. However, women are still underrepresented at all levels of corporate, and more steps must be taken to empower women at the workplace.

The female voice needs to be amplified 

It is important for women to be heard in the workplace. They are overlooked in meetings all the time, and it is extremely important to allow them to share their thoughts during meetings. If they come up with a great idea, they must be recognized and appreciated. Give them credit when it is due and motivate and encourage them to do even better.

Praise your female employees when they are deserving. Instead of just communicating their action items or feedback, take the time to celebrate their strengths and weaknesses. Female employees should be given public speaking opportunities wherever possible.

Make women feel more confident

Use feedback to make women feel more confident in the workplace. It is important to let them know how they are performing, what is going right and what can be done better. Doing so will help them improve their skills, which in turn, will boost their confidence.

There is constant competition at the workplace, and women may need to push through the glass ceiling. Very often, this competitive drive creates negative workplace relations. By supporting other women at the workplace with positive feedback, you can change this entire narrative, helping women support each other to succeed.

Close the pay gap

According to a report by Payscale, for every dollar earned by a man, women only make 82 cents. This gap could be even higher in certain industries and for women of color. If women do not get fair pay, they also don’t feel valued at work.

Organizations should close the wage gap by ensuring salaries and raises and equitably determined. The need of the hour is a standardized pay structure, regardless of gender.

Recognize that there will still be challenges ahead

Women empowerment is not something that can be achieved in a day. Despite a lot of work being done by companies, there are still a lot of challenges. There are still a lot of women who abandon their careers for their families. A lot of women still fight gender equality every day. Even the women who have got promotions have had to fight and negotiate for them.

It is important for women to be mentored and championed so that they can grow into leadership roles. Organizations should provide more opportunities to women and ensure policies are put in place that empowers women throughout the organization.