Diversity is imperative to all workplaces. And gender diversity is simply the equitable representation of men and women. It means that men and women are hired at a consistent rate and provided with equitable opportunities for growth and development.

Gender diversity is the untapped power play upon which organizations can build their success.

How to create Gender Diversity? What are the must-haves?

In an organization, a fair representation of men and women across roles and levels is key to achieving gender diversity. So rather than focusing on the nice-to-haves, organizations should work towards having must-haves.

Attract & Recruit Gender-Diverse Talent

1) Performance-Based Impact Job Descriptions

• Research shows men apply for jobs if they are 60% qualified, whereas women will only apply when they meet 100% of the requirements mentioned in the job description. Hence, a performance-based impact job description free of gendered language is the way to go ahead.

2) Gender-diverse Pipeline

• Sourcing a gender-diverse top-tier talent pipeline through collaborative efforts is essential for developing a workforce that upholds Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Organizations can broaden and leverage their gender-diverse talent search with myAvtar.com, India’s 1st Diversity portal.

3) Diverse Interview Panels

• If an organization is looking to make tangible steps to achieve gender diversity in industry and business, committing to gender-diverse interview panels is crucial. One of the benefits of a diverse interview panel is avoiding unconscious biases. And more intentional women to join the workforce and represent leadership roles, both men and women have to be on board. A diverse interview panel is an organization’s commitment to a gender-balanced workplace.

Retain Gender-Diverse Talent

1) Clear paths to career progression

• Gender diversity doesn’t end with hiring. Creating conditions for everyone to succeed and progress in their career fulfils the organization’s overarching goal of creating an inclusive workplace. Mentoring sessions, networking opportunities, community resources etc., are ways to make employees feel heard and appreciated.

2) Fair compensation practices

• To attract, hire, and retain top-tier talent, organizations should compensate every employee fairly based on their experience, skills, education and performance.

3) A commitment to true inclusivity

• Equitable and reasonable benefits for all express an organization’s approach to true inclusion. Flexible work policies and parental leave are a few of the many family-friendly benefits that can serve an impact on building a gender-diverse place to work.

Gender Diversity at work is essential. Diversity in thoughts and ideas is vital for any company’s success. And it’s only imperative that organizations find ways to nurture diversity and not restrict it.