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We are pleased that the "Handelszeitung" as our project partner published this article in the print edition on August 19, and in the online edition on August 23 2021.

By Gabriele Schambach und Julia Nentwich

Male managers attest that their companies have an organisational climate conducive to gender equality - but women feel less included.

Recognition, fairness, participation, inclusion and equal opportunities are the central characteristics of an inclusive climate. Around fifty per cent of the 1,200 male managers who participated in the survey "Leaders for Equality" by the University of St. Gallen fully agree with the statement that they experience such a climate in their companies. In concrete terms, this means that the company invests in the development of its employees and that there are fair opportunities for promotion. There is also an appreciative approach to the diversity of employees and employees are encouraged to contribute. This pleasing result is worth celebrating!

The organisational climate is not just an ornamental accessory beyond business management concerns, but significantly determines job satisfaction and productivity as well as commitment and well-being. Thus, it quickly becomes a cost factor when it comes to low performance, fluctuation and sick leave. Likewise, it can be shown to have an impact on employer attractiveness and the recruitment of new employees - and not least on increasing the proportion of women in management positions.

And this brings us to the proverbial fly in the ointment of these results: Female managers experience the organisational climate much more negatively. Almost every sixth woman manager even gives a negative evaluation - whereby of the rubrics mentioned, "fair opportunities for advancement" receives the lowest approval from the women.

Obviously, women managers do not feel well included: Compared to their male colleagues, they experience themselves less naturally in the position as a manager and also assess their chances regarding career development more negatively. How gruelling and tiring this is is described by a woman in one of our group discussions: "I have to prove myself. I have to justify myself. I have to gain respect first. It is actually a constant struggle! Once you manage to earn respect, then it actually works. But the way to get there is exhausting. Above all, you walk it several times." Part of this struggle for participation and recognition is to be perceived as a boss, as another cadre woman describes it: "There comes a moment when people ask: 'Yes, who's in charge there now?' Some of the men don't even look at me! And I think to myself: 'What's wrong now? It's frightening that you're not even noticed!" These examples are not isolated cases, but are reported again and again in variations.

The men in leadership positions also perceive this imbalance, as one cadre describes his observations: "She always has to fight. She has to do ten times as much to get the same acceptance."

Regardless of the attitudes of individuals, women experience and men observe forms of organisational and structural inequalities that are reflected in the behaviour and experiences described: Management floors are still male-dominated and shaped, so that women - even if they adapt and act similar to male role models - are seen as the "others", outsiders, strangers.

This makes it clear that women have still not arrived at management levels as a matter of course - and that, despite the positive assessment of men in the survey, there is still too little of an organisational climate that also includes women. There is an urgent need for action here if one does not want to lose women on their way to management positions. Measures on the part of the company that promote recognition and respect are effective, including, for example, the commitment to equal pay, which is also an indicator of the inclusive climate. Above all, however, it is the managers who are called upon to shape the organisational climate - and since they usually form the majority, it is above all the men who are called upon. On the one hand, they can show appreciation for their colleagues through their own actions. On the other hand, they can stand up for and intervene when their colleagues or employees (perhaps unintentionally) make it difficult for women. Acting as a role model here contributes significantly to change - especially when many men are equally active. As one executive aptly put it in a conversation: "In order to achieve more equality, I wish that more men would have the courage to become active and that it would become a matter of course for men to stand up for equality". With this in mind: Join in!

Equality is seen as an imperative of fairness - but why is it so difficult to implement it in the workplace?

Male managers are committed to gender equality for reasons of fairness. 93 per cent of the approximately 1,200 managers who participated in the gender equality survey conducted by the University of St.Gallen, said that fairness was the main reason and motivation for working towards equality. This very pleasing result shows that the current status quo within many organizations is perceived as unfair. That is, the persistent under-representation of women in management positions is no longer seen as an unquestioned matter of course in companies or as the result of women's lack of career ambition but as a lack of fairness.

According to the Duden dictionary, the English term fairness means an accepted concept of justice, appropriateness and decency. In relation to the topic of equality, fairness could then be understood as the just, appropriate and decent treatment of women - and also men!

The aforementioned survey shows that most men believe that they already employ fairness in the workplace: 62 per cent, stated that they are careful not to make any remarks that (perhaps unintentionally) devalue women or do not take them seriously. Another 34 percent can imagine doing so, that is to say not making unjust remarks and therefore, behaving fairly seems to be self-evident and easy to implement.

However, it is more difficult to implement fairness, i.e. to intervene when women are treated unfairly, inappropriately or indecently. According to self-disclosure, half of the male managers still support their female colleagues when their competences are ignored, disregarded or questioned. But not even fifty percent address or question their male colleagues, employees and/or superiors when they make remarks that (perhaps unintentionally) devalue women, are sexist or misogynistic.

It is precisely this intervening behaviour which requires a great deal of courage that many women would like to see more of! Many women have experience with situations, (especially when they are in groups majoritarian of men) of a raunchy joke, a remark about the buttons on one's blouse, or being questioned about whether the discussion is not too technical for them. A common occurrence in unfair workplaces, women often do not want to or cannot appropriately defend themselves - paradoxically out of self-protection. If they do, they are often called hysterical, oversensitive or humourless. It is apparent that their needs for fair treatment are not always taken into account and that they run the risk of losing respect and authority in the group as a professional and leader. So they smile benignly, keep quiet and grit their teeth. If no one complains in these situations, men do not reflect on and question their behaviour and everything stays the same!

More and more, men are also bothered by unfair or degrading behaviour yet towards women yet even if they themselves pay attention to their behaviour, they do not necessarily intervene when a male colleague acts inappropriately. Why is this?

This is where the so-called “bystander effect” comes into play. Most people are familiar with this effect in accidents or robberies: The more people there are around the victim, the less likely it is that someone will intervene or help. Transferred to the aforementioned meeting round, or group situation, this means that a single man who rejects behaviour that degrades women will not necessarily intervene and voice his objection in such a situation. A comparable reason for women not intervening in such situations is that they fear being discredited as a wimp, oversensitive and not having a sense of humour. Because they do not intervene and speak up, both women and men interpret the silence of their colleagues as approval and everything remains the same!

In order to demand fairness in the workplace, something important is needed: that we all become more courageous! Indeed, allies must be found and we must build walls against unethical treatment of our female colleagues! After a meeting where someone’s behaviour was offensive, demeaning or humiliating, it is easier to talk in pairs among men about the situation experienced in order to find out who also experienced it as inappropriate. Together, a discussion can then take place with the colleague who also found the remarks unnecessary and then possibly intervene together at the next meeting. It is also helpful to initiate "gender dialogues" in the company. On these occasions, women and men exchange examples of unfair and derogatory situations they have experienced and share what exactly they understand by fair and appreciative treatment of each other. In this way, (also unintentional) inappropriate behaviour becomes defined and visible and we become more aware of it. With jointly agreed changes, including our suggestion above of creating “gender dialogue” meetings in the organization, fairness emerges. Here, then, fairness presents itself as a barrier to discrimination and a sign of a courageous and progressive workplace – a work environment that benefits everyone.

by Gabriele Schambach and Julia Nentwich We are pleased that the Handelszeitung as our project partner published this article in the print edition  on April 29, and in the online edition  on May 10.

The objective assessment of performance is a myth - in reality, it exacerbates inequality. "In our company, performance and competency count, not gender". This is the opinion of 82 per cent of male and 84 per cent of female managers who took part in the first Switzerland-wide survey on the gender equality commitment of male managers as part of the "Leaders for Equality" project of the University of St. Gallen.

Meritocracy presupposes that it is purely a person's work performance that creates the prerequisite for promotion to a managerial or leadership position. Behind this is an essential ideal of our modern society: meritocracy. Neither noble birth nor family connections, neither skin colour nor gender are believed (ideally conceived) to play a role in the assessment of work performance. The fact that personal advancement is judged strictly on merit, is considered an essential principle of fairness and equality. However, there is a catch to this assumption: it presupposes that, in order to measure performance, everyone can perform the same task in the same way. However, this is often not the case - and this is precisely where the problem lies!

Bias trainings have made it clear in recent years that women and men who apply for a leadership position are assessed differently. The competencies that are important for a leadership position, such as assertiveness, rationality or ambition for example, are less often attributed to women - especially if they are mothers. This is aggravated by the fact that in the common image of leadership, skills such as communication or collaboration and flexibility, for example, are sometimes interpreted as weaknesses. Women are given less credit here, and their performance is often not recognised in the same way.

In addition, not every “performance” is considered a performance. For example, "ability to work under pressure" is usually understood to mean the willingness to work overtime and in crisis situations. The high commitment of part-time employees to optimise work processes and develop effective time management shows that they are able to cope with a high work intensity. This skill however, this is rarely recorded under "resilience"

The different life realities of women and men in management positions also play a major role here: data from the survey shows that managers work almost exclusively full-time. Two-thirds of male executives have children, but only one-third of female executives have children. The majority of the men's partners are employed only part-time (60 % max.) and presumably take on the main responsibility for family tasks, while the partners of the female executives are predominantly employed full-time. The men can count on the support of their partner, which is not the case to the same extent for the women managers. The data shows that women executives cannot be present and available all the time (if they have children and they are not looked after by other people than their parents).

In order to deal with the differences between women and men and, at the same time, maintain the performance criteria for career and potential development, companies often choose promotional measures to meet the supposedly “objective” criteria: For example, women receive further training to present themselves more offensively, to become more rhetorically quick-witted or to develop "more bite". It is the women who are supposed to get further education, participate in trainings and ultimately, change. For the male colleagues and company politics in general, the promotion of women in this way (workshops etc.) creates a comfortable situation: the current and normative evaluation standards of performance do not have to be questioned.

This is not the way forward! What should be done instead?

First of all, it is important for companies as well as managers (and employees, of course) to recognise that the applicable performance criteria are not necessarily neutral, objective, or fair. Furthermore, it could be said that it reproduces existing social and structural inequalities and prevents equality.

Instead, there is a need for new performance criteria that recognises and takes into account time constraints and responsibilities of both men and women. It is clear that men have a professional advantage over women if they are not expected to contribute time and energy to family life in the same way as women. In order to reduce inequalities in the work place we need to change and develop our performance assessment criteria. The current criteria therefore need to be put to the test and their interpretation possibilities both expanded and made transparent. This will help to ensure comparable assessments (and not comparing apples with pears as is currently the case) and also build greater individual and corporate resilience.

At the same time, it also makes sense to eliminate certain criteria: physical presence at the workplace and permanent availability, for example, are not suitable parameters for a gender-equitable performance appraisal. Instead, there is a need to measure both quantitative and qualitative outcomes of work completed.

These approaches imply an equality-oriented change in the current corporate and leadership culture. These proposed changes in which women and men in all their diversity are be equally involved would provide more sustainable and ethical outcomes for everyone.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, we published an op-ed on the question: What can managers do for more gender equality in Swiss companies?

We are pleased that the Handelszeitung as our project partner published this article in the print edition on February 25, and in the online edition on February 28 2021.

by Gabriele Schambach und Julia Nentwich

In order to increase the proportion of women in management positions, a successful technique is that older, more experienced and higher-ranked men promote them. This is effective and seems obvious but there are ambivalences and challenges.

Male managers in Swiss companies are committed to promoting women. This is what our survey of almost 1,200 managers revealed:

Women are presumed to be more hesitant

This is because managers often see women as “reserved” when it comes to the possibility of being in leadership positions. Leadership positions are generally filled according to the similarity principle: "That means that if you have loud men at the top who are loud and shout, then they bring in people who are also loud and shout," says one manager. Challenging this mechanism of aggressive communication, of the alpha male who beats his chest, is the goal of male managers when they promote women.

Encourage women

What is necessary for this to happen? Clearly, one's own leadership mandate must be taken more seriously by approaching women directly, offering support, "picking them up a bit more, clarifying needs and then perhaps taking them by the hand more", as one manager puts his own task. In addition, it is also about showing that they are welcome in this - still existent - man's world. Managers must be able to inspire women to the point where they confidently say: "I would like to have your job one day at some point in the future".

Protect women

But isn’t "forcing someone to be successful", patronising? Managers ask themselves whether they are really doing their female employees a favour. Especially with perceived physically fragile women, a manager is "afraid that this person will break" and wonders: "If she is alone in the management team of sixty men...will she survive? But then if you try to protect her, that's even worse!" The male leaders here see very clearly the challenges that (can) exist for women. At the same time, they realise that wanting to protect someone means assuming that the person is weaker and cannot stand up for themselves.

Traditional gender images

The above image of women as “delicate flowers”, and potential patronization that may ensue, can hinder the promotion of women. It is a dilemma that potentially entrenches traditional gender images: "That is possibly the cardinal error. Because it is then men who select women for promotion and define what promotion actually means," one manager says. Mentoring in particular is viewed critically in this context, because according to one man, the assumption behind it is: "Women are just not that self-confident, so you have to provide them with mentors and then it will work out". The male managers are thus aware of the difficulties of the existing conditions and the need to provide mentors and role models - but how can this be changed?

One manager suggests promoting women on an equal footing: "Up to now, men have promoted women as if they were their daughters. But they should promote them as if they were their sisters. You have to look at women as a peer and promote them there too". Although this view sounds very plausible and appealing, another manager sees a problem in it at the same time: "Because of the ideal image, where we now want to have mixed genders, do I now promote my competitor? That's unnatural! I find that an excessive demand!"

Promotion at eye level

One manager suggests promoting women on an equal footing: "Up to now, men have promoted women as if they were their daughters. But they should promote them as if they were their sisters. You have to look at women as peers and promote them there too". Although this view sounds very plausible and appealing, another manager sees a problem with this more egalitarian position: "Because of the ideal image, where we now want to have mixed genders, do I now promote my competitor? That's unnatural! I find that an excessive demand!"

Resolving the dilemma of Paternalism

But how should these dilemmas be dealt with? The concept of "Gender Inclusive Leadership" provides a path: women must be promoted and supported, but at the same time fears must be taken into account and existing challenges must be resolved. Those who are concerned that a particular work culture might be too "rough" for woman should consider whether this prevailing culture is not also counter intuitive for men, too. Do we want to maintain work practices that are purely founded on traditional masculine qualities (ex. beating your chest) or can we evolve as a team and become more inclusive?

Against the danger of paternalism, it is a good idea to get women and men talking to each other – communication is key! If we exchange different perceptions and possible solutions, measures can be made that suit both sexes. An understanding of the perceived ambivalences, complexities and challenges leads to clarification and knowledge that these systemic cultural issues cannot be changed overnight. In this way, more male leaders might feel that the issue of equality in the workplace is an issue for everyone which deserves authentic consideration and that we might begin by having open, honest and direct conversations about what is best for everyone.

Overall, it remains to be noted that it cannot be a matter of adapting women to the given circumstances – of expecting women to act more like (traditionally defined) men. Instead of looking at the ascension of women in the workplace as a threat to individual professional advancement, we might look at it as collective and creative problem solving. Instead of looking at women as either equal sisters or unequal daughters – as being dangerous competitors - we might like to see them as collaborators possessing valuable problem-solving skills.. Through reflection and exchange about ambivalences and challenges leadership practices and philosophies can be reshaped. In this way, the corporate culture of the organization can evolve enabling equal opportunities and shared advantages for all.

Beim heutigen „Lunch Talk“ von FidAR - Frauen in die Aufsichtsräte e.V. hat Dr. Gabriele Schambach die Ergebnisse der Umfrage „Leaders for Equality: Führungskräfte nutzen Chanen“ vorgestellt und mit den knapp sechzig Teilnehmenden diskutiert.

Wir bedanken uns für die Einladung und den spannenden Austausch!

Hier finden Sie die Aufzeichnung der Veranstaltung.

We are pleased that the Handelszeitung, as our project partner, published this article in an abridged version  of the print edition on December 17 and in the online edition on December 28, 2020.

by Gabriele Schambach and Julia Nentwich

		Knapp 1.200 Führungskräfte haben sich an unserer Umfrage beteiligt – davon 69 % Männer. Die zentralen Erkenntnisse sind:

• Männliche Führungskräfte wollen sich für Gleichstellung engagieren. Sie sind motiviert, praktizieren Gleichstellungsförderung in ihrem Führungsalltag und sind bereit, sich bei weiteren Aktivitäten zu engagieren. Bereits die Beteiligung von 824 männlichen Führungskräften an der Online-Umfrage zeigt dieses Interesse deutlich. Dieses Potential gilt es in Schweizer Unternehmen zu kommunizieren und für weitere Gleichstellungsaktivitäten zu nutzen.
  
  
• Die äusserst positive Einschätzung der männlichen Führungskräfte wird allerdings von den zum Verhalten ihrer männlichen Kollegen befragten weiblichen Führungskräften nicht geteilt. Frauen schätzen die Aktivitäten ihrer männlichen Kollegen fast durchgängig weniger positiv ein. Gleichzeitig gehen sie jedoch davon aus, dass viele der genannten Aktivitäten für ihre Kollegen vorstellbar wären.
  
  
• Wesentlich für das Gleichstellungsengagement sind die folgenden drei zentralen inhaltlichen Kernelemente: Die gender inclusive Veränderung der Führungs- und Unternehmenskultur, die Erleichterung der Vereinbarkeit von Familie mit Beruf, Karriere und Führung für Frauen und Männer und die Unterstützung und Ermutigung von Frauen.
  
  
• Die Erkenntnisse der Erhebungen weisen deutlich auf eine Strategie in Unternehmen und Organisationen hin, Gleichstellung als gemeinsames Thema von Frauen und Männern zu lancieren.
  
  
• Veränderung ist dabei als Organisationsentwicklungsprozess zu begreifen. Wichtig ist dabei, dass sich nicht Frauen an die gegebenen Umstände anpassen müssen, sondern die Organisationen in ihren Abläufen, Kulturen und (Führungs-)Selbstverständlichkeiten so verändert werden, dass Frauen und Männer sich in ihrer Vielfalt integriert fühlen können.
  
  
• Aufgrund der häufig sehr unterschiedlichen Einschätzungen von Frauen und Männern erscheint es besonders wichtig, Gespräche zwischen Frauen und Männern zu initiieren, in denen über Gleichstellung, die damit verbundenen Zielsetzungen und erhofften Effekte gesprochen wird. Hierüber ins Gespräch zu kommen, ermöglicht einen wichtigen Perspektivwechsel, durch den neue Verhaltensweisen erworben werden können. Ein zentrales Instrument können hier Dialog(veranstaltungen) zwischen Männern und Frauen sein.

Hier finden Sie die komplette Studie sowie die Medienmitteilung vom 2. Dezember 2020.

We are pleased that “Handelszeitung” as our project partner has published this article in an abridged version in the print edition on October 22, 2020.

by Gabriele Schambach and Julia Nentwich

For a long time, it was taken for granted that equality is a women's issue and that therefore, men are not interested. Our project "Leaders for Equality: Leaders take advantage of opportunities" at the University of St. Gallen has found that many men are, in fact, quite motivated to commit themselves to equality.

Indeed, equality is usually perceived as a women's issue - and in many companies, it is also communicated in this way. Men seem to have nothing to do with it and are neither addressed nor included in discussions on the subject. However, the commitment of male managers is essential for the success of gender equality efforts in the company. The question is: Why should they get involved?

Our discussions with male managers and our nationwide online survey clearly show why men are motivated and what exactly motivates them:

Management task and business case

The so-called business case is seen by the almost 1,200 Swiss managers we surveyed, as the main motivation for commitment to equality.

The shortage of skilled workers and demographic change play a driving role in this context: Due to a high average age in Swiss companies and especially among the - predominantly male - managers, a large number of expected retirements are pending in the next few years. In order to continue to have enough specialists and managers in the future, many of the managers we interviewed believe that it is necessary to hire more (young) women and to promote them professionally. Gender-oriented recruiting and structured internal personnel development facilitate access to larger talent pools in order to avoid leaving highly qualified women in the market to competitors (see also Krell/Sieben 2011).

One of the areas in which more women in the workplace prove the business case argument is in the work climate. The work environment improves by an increase in the number of woman in the team: Women bring social coherency to the team, so-called “soft skills”, which otherwise are lacking in purely male teams. More women in the workplace increases performance and thus brings economic added value to the company. Because women bring different perspectives and skills to the team, the teams arrive at more innovative and creative solutions and are more balanced with better decision-making (see also Krell/Sieben 2011).

Company regulations and guidelines such as KPIs also motivate men. However, the male participants in our online survey see this as only a minor motivator. Remarkably, a significantly higher percentage of female managers who were asked in the online survey about their perception of their colleagues and superiors believe that their male colleagues are motivated by regulations and guidelines. Given these differences in the perception of male and female managers, it is a good idea to find out how these different assessments are justified, e.g. through measures such as in-house slide-log events for managers.

The advantage of understanding equality as a corporate and management task is that the topic is viewed in a primarily business context. Committed men do not primarily act as individuals, but as managers who deal with specialist  and corporate tasks. This can give them legitimacy for their actions and protect them from being devalued by other men, for example.

Fairness

"Our company works 100% and not only 50%. Our staff are human beings, and only half of us, are men. Full participation means that at the management level in a company, women belong to it just as much as I do as a man". This manager suggests that fairness and the pursuit of justice are important motives for managers. Among the men surveyed, fairness is even one of the most frequently cited reasons for the commitment to equality and equity According to the male managers we interviewed, this aspect results from personal observations and from experiencing situations in which women are treated unequally or are even discriminated against. They see these moments as deeply unfair and unjust - which motivates them to work for change.

Personal aspects

In the 10 group discussions we organized with high-level male personnel, a rigid concept of management as dominant masculinity, was criticized:

"I do not want to be limited to a male role model in my person. It is mega-difficult if only that is expected of you". This statement by a male manager makes it clear that a commitment to equality is motivated by one's own experience of the disadvantages of traditional and stereotypical gender roles that can lead to inequality and discrimination not to mention a restricted conception of the person. These disadvantages relate above all to the role of the sole financial provider or breadwinner in the household. This role can sometimes be an impossible one including a leadership culture of always being available with permanent presence and accessibility, unlimited flexibility as well as high performance and hardness etc. On the one hand, the associated physical and mental stress of this outdated and restricted gender role can lead to health problems and on the other hand, to an unbalanced private and family life. In this idealistic and unattainable “superman” role active fatherhood, is made impossible for men. And even if a traditional gender arrangement is freely chosen and advocated, it can still lead to alienation from (spouse or) partner and children and eventually to a break-up of relationships (see Schambach 2013).

A further form of concern for men becomes apparent when male managers fear or experience that their daughters and/or granddaughters have difficulties in having a career due to social and company-internal discrimination: “I sometimes ask myself: In what kind of world should my daughter grow up? Should she give up on the idea of having realistic professional opportunities? Does she have to imitate male behavior in order to be able to move, freely in the corporate world?”

Men also discuss the advantages and personal benefits they receive from gender equality: "Men also only want to work 60 or 80% - they want to spend more family time, quality time". Male managers benefit from equal opportunities activities in the same way as women. Because of flexible forms of work and career models including the possibility of working part-time and parental leave, for example, new scope and possibilities for a more open corporate culture which enables sustainable work-life integration and active fatherhood, can be envisioned.

Male managers create framework conditions

The results of our research clearly show that men want to commit themselves to equality! They are motivated and they see themselves as responsible for shaping the way to achieve this. As one male executive emphasizes: "WE have to create the framework conditions so that equality can work".

In this process, they do not want to act as "brakemen", but rather as "role models" in order to work together with women on "how we can do this together", says one male manager.

These motivational reasons, which were also confirmed in our online survey of over 1,200 Swiss managers, can bring new momentum to equality initiatives in companies. Our results clearly show that male managers need to be involved - in strategic alignment, as well as in internal communication and application for equality initiatives and measures. In our opinion, these are very decisive first steps to be able to count more women in management positions in the future.

If you perceive further motivating factors for men in management positions in your everyday work or company, we would like very much to hear from you: tell us about.

Literatur

Krell, Gertraude/ Sieben, Barbara (2011): Diversity Management: Chancengleichheit für alle und auch als Wettbewerbsvorteil. In: Krell, Gertraude/Ortlieb, Renate/Sieben, Barbara (Hrsg.) (2011): Chancengleichheit durch Personalpolitik, 6. Aufl., Wiesbaden, 155-174.

Schambach, Gabriele (2013): Ein Teil der Lösung - Überlegungen zum Einbezug von Männern zur Erhöhung des Frauenanteils in Führungspositionen. In: Jansen, Mechtild M./ Röming, Angelika/ Rohde, Marianne (Hrsg.): Männer - Frauen - Zukunft. Ein Genderhandbuch, München, 209-226.

In der Süddeutschen Zeitung erschien ein Artikel von Felicitas Wilke über den Wandel in Unternehmen durch die Corona Krise und die Chance, die für Führungskräfte darin liegt. Dr. Gabriele Schambach kommt darin als Expertin zu Wort.

Gabriele Schambach hat bei der diesjährigen 4. St. Galler Diversity & Inclusion Tagung – die dieses Jahr als digitale Diversity & Inclusion Week veranstaltet wurde - die Podiumsdiskussion „Okay Boomer?! Diversity, Inclusion und Führung neu denken“ moderiert. Sie hat Petra Borrmann und Stephanie Jekal von der Bosch GmbH zu ihren Erfahrungen mit Job-Sharing von Führungskräften befragt. Geanina Boll von BLS Cargo hat Auskunft gegeben über ihre Einsichten, als sie als junge Führungskraft ein Team mit überwiegend älteren Männern übernommen hat. Mit Josef Kruckenberg von Unci hat sie darüber diskutiert, welche Potentiale und Fallstricke für Diversity in einer holokratischen Organisationsform liegen.

Alle Beiträge der Diversity & Inclusion Week.

Im Rahmen der diesjährigen 4. St. Galler Diversity & Inclusion Tagung – die dieses Jahr als digitale Diversity & Inclusion Week veranstaltet wurde - haben am 8. September 2020 Julia Nentwich und Gabriele Schambach erste Ergebnisse des Projektes vorgestellt und mit Manuela Bärtsch Foster und Hans-Caspar Schegg vom Projektunternehmen Helvetia Versicherungen diskutiert. Die Aufnahme der Online Session des Wissenschaft-Praxis-Dialogs gibt es hier.

Alle Beiträge der Diversity & Inclusion Week.

In der Ausgabe 3/2020 des HSG Focus im September mit dem Schwerpunkt Diversity ist ein Artikel über unser Projekt erschienen.

We are pleased that the "Handelszeitung" as our project partner has published this article in an abridged version in the print edition on 20th of August.

by Gabriele Schambach and Julia Nentwich

The low proportion of women in management positions is often explained by the fact that women do not want to work in these positions. But is this really true? Is it not that men are reluctant to question repressive cultural norms necessary in order for women to really develop? Our contribution highlights the importance of the willingness and desire of male managers to change prevailing corporate culture.

The proportion of women in management positions in Swiss companies ranges from between thirty and fourty percent and has changed very little over the past 25 years. Although many companies have recognized the advantage of mixed management teams and have taken measures to promote women, the necessary and highly anticipated systemic and fundamental changes have not yet been realized. Male managers from our partner companies have discussed the reasons for this as part of our project "Leaders for Equality: Managers taking opportunities".

Women just don’t want to...

A central and frequently recurring explanation is "wanting". A manager asks: "Do women even want this? Or how many want it? We can see that some want it, which is why we have women at the top. But do so many really want that? Or do the companies feel they have to bring in women because they lack the experts?"

Many of the managers interviewed say that women have already said to them: "No, I don't want that at all! I don't want to take on this responsibility and go the extra mile and be in the office for so long." For women, for example, the idea of thinking about work for hours after work on the way home and in the evening is a deterrent. And also the frequently made observation that superiors "scamper around stressed out and work overtime" leads to women tending to say: "I'm happy with the way I do things and I don't want to have to put myself through that”.

But many of our managers do not stop there. They put forward various reasons which, in their eyes, can explain the observed reluctance of women to go that extra mile and access management positions in their company. Managers’ mention, for example, the lack of opportunities to reconcile career and family. But beyond that, other aspects that have been less discussed are addressed – we believe male managers can influence these aspects and that they can be very helpful for women.

Alleged non-competitors

From a manager's point of view, one must consider "whether we have a masculine culture where you, as a woman, are not appreciated for your true potential and capabilities”.

It's not so much that women "may generally feel less confident in executive positions (...), but it's always a cultural problem". This cultural problem manifests itself in prejudices against women and their abilities. For example, might be asked of a woman: "Can she even do that? What is she doing here anyway? Doesn't she belong behind the stove?" Women must also give ten times more to customers because the customer said on the phone: "Yes, give me one with the best knowledge." These prejudices are a fundamental problem in the eyes of the managers interviewed: If a new person coming into the company feels that he or she is not accepted without prejudice and also feels that he or she has to make a double effort to be regarded as competent, or to get a chance at all, then it is much more difficult for this person to say: "I want this position!” To fight against prejudices is an important measure, which is not only difficult for women, but is also experienced by the managers interviewed as a "fight against windmills".

Alone among men

Another important reason why women show a certain reluctance towards a "culturally classic male environment" is military service. Because "all those who have done military service and have been around men only 24/7 " would have "somehow a different base". In the opinion of male executives, "completely different manners" developed as a result of the military experience, such as a certain authoritarian tone of behavior (to which women reacted negatively). Although the importance of the military is generally declining in everyday life, and thus its influence on the work place, it still required "a great deal of courage for women to say: 'I'm going first – out of my way’!". In general, in the talks we have had, there is a great deal of understanding that not every woman always wants to be courageous or to be first. One manager is convinced: "If I put myself in a woman's shoes now, there is always a bit of an example missing. I always have to be so pushy. But the examples that show that women can also be pushy are really missing. Without role models and experience, the uncertainty as to how this will develop is simply too great. There are a lot of these confidence issues that have to be dealt with for the first time when a woman joins the company, so that, in the end, you are "like a researcher or developer helping to develop a company or change a culture in a company" - that is much more than just doing a good job.

50/50 would be the ideal - but how do we get there?

"Fifty percent men and fifty percent women works out in the company and then everything is sorted out," - one manager is convinced of that. But since this is rarely the case and the management teams are often made up exclusively of men, the overall cultural change is more difficult to implement.

It is precisely here that the prevailing masculine culture slows down the necessary change. One manager, for example, stresses that it is "the loud ones" that "are heard and seen in the end. "And the noisy and extroverted ones are mostly men". Women, even if they do a great job and have the skills to be managers, tend to sell themselves short, under value. Also, "the number of men who are convinced that they are ready for the next step in the ladder is significantly higher than the number of women." A greater visibility of women and the support of managers is necessary to correct this effect, as otherwise "the men will always push themselves forward".

On ability and the desire for change

"Actually, there should be opportunities to advance as a woman - if that is what you want," says one of the female managers interviewed. In the discussions we arranged, women largely share the assessments and perceptions of men, but mostly describe even more drastic personal experiences. If, as our discussions clearly show, women are to "want" to be managers in the future, profound cultural changes are required in companies. Prejudices must be dispelled, and equity measures developed. It is imperative to focus on the "wanting" and willingness of male managers to sometimes leave a little space for another approach and it is arguably men who have the ability to shape a culture of togetherness. As soon as they want to move away from military-style forms of competition towards cooperative and egalitarian forms of cooperation which are equally appealing to women and men, change will come. When men shape their understanding of leadership accordingly, in order to make it possible to reconcile career or leadership and family, it becomes clear that it is less the non-willingness of women to climb the ladder but more the will of male managers to challenge cultural norms and barriers.

Endlich mal was anders machen: Führungskräfte gestalten Gleichstellung
ist der Titel der Online Session von Julia Nentwich und Gabriele Schambach im Rahmen der HSG Insights: Die neue Normalität erfolgreich gestalten.

In diesem Seminar führen wir aus, welche neuen Erfahrungen mit Führung und Zusammenarbeit während des Corona-Lockdowns zu beobachten waren. Unsere Schlussfolgerung daraus ist, dass Führung neu (weiter) gedacht werden muss. Auf Grundlage dieser Beobachtungen und Learnings stellen wir vor, wie Führungskräfte Gleichstellung gestalten können.

We are pleased that the "Handelszeitung" as our project partner has published this article in an abridged version in the print edition on 16 July and on 29 July 2020 in the online edition.

by Gabriele Schambach and Prof. Julia Nentwich

Companies have considerable advantages when they promote equality. This is demonstrated by a recent study we conducted with male managers in a total of 10 group discussions.

Many companies still stubbornly believe that equality and an increase in the number of women in management positions are pleasant "nice-to-have" additions to any company. Often, in addition to this, other supposedly "real" business topics are perceived to be more urgent. This is a fatal fallacy! In order to ensure the future viability and economic survival of a business, promoting equality is essentially a "must-have". As one of the male managers we interviewed said: "If all women are behind the stove, then our economy will go down the drain".

Why is that the case? We have compiled an overview of the most important arguments for you here:

Addressing the shortage of skilled workers

"And then to say, now we want to choose. That doesn't work anymore. You have to open up. The medium-sized companies, especially in the engineering sector, really do have a shortage of skilled workers". This statement made by a male manager in one of our discussions hits the nail on the head: demographic developments lead to an average age of 46.5 years for managers in Switzerland. It is therefore foreseeable that a whole series of (male) executives will retire in the near future. Unfortunately, however, there is not the same number of qualified young professionals. Even today it is not always easy to fill vacancies - and therefore it makes little sense to ignore well-qualified and motivated women.

Since 1991, there are almost a million more women in the workforce who are skilled and eager to enter leadership positions. Times have changed. For the managers in our study, employment and leadership positions have become more self-evident and there are more and more women as role models. However, social expectations are lagging behind. In comparison with the Netherlands or Scandinavia, for example, the female managers we surveyed in Switzerland, believe that a "world view of 3C: children, church, kitchen for women" is still widespread (especially beyond the French-speaking part of Switzerland and outside the cities).

"We need experts, that's why we discuss this topic, not because we have enough people".

In spite of some hurdles, making an effort to attract women is, however, extremely rewarding for companies. In the "War for Talent" new reservoirs of labour can be tapped, which automatically increase the pool of resources and selection. Formulating job offers in a gender-sensitive manner or distributing offers specifically via women's networks and explicitly commissioning headhunters to find suitable women, are proven and successful recruiting techniques.

In addition to the search for new specialists, employee retention is also important: "We simply must not lose the good people". Here, too, it has been proven that activities to promote gender equality, such as changing previous perceptions of “normality”, help companies to reduce their fluctuation rates as well as absenteeism and sickness rates - and thus not only save costs, but above all secure know-how.

Overall, equality activities increase the attractiveness of employers, which means that small and medium-sized companies in particular can score points "because it's super great in employer branding when you can say, hey, we're on the same topic as big company X".

Increase efficiency and performance

The experience of male managers in our group discussions is that decisions made by all-male teams are "often more extreme or more black-and-white", and that "some potential added value is lost" when "relatively few women are in management positions". In contrast, high-performance teams "are usually characterized by the fact that they are quite diverse. Because they combine tradition and modernity, they question themselves, face risk, self-recruitment or self-congratulation."

Overall, it has been found that mixed teams are more efficient and "reach their goal more easily with less effort" "and at the same time, it also greatly reduces the idea of competition" towards a "much stronger togetherness".

These perceptions are confirmed by studies by McKinsey or Ernst & Young, for example: companies with women in top management positions achieve up to 50% higher operating results! The reasons for these successes are the intentionally heterogeneous composition of the teams, which can react more flexibly in the constantly changing market and working environment, as well as faster and better to the different requirements of stakeholders and customers. They can also respond more flexibly to ongoing organisational change - both in digitalisation, which increasingly demands communication and project orientation.

The increase in efficiency and performance is accompanied by a reduction in direct costs due to excessive labour movements, new hires and absenteeism, as well as indirect costs due to dissatisfaction and demotivation.

Increase creativity and problem solving

High efficiency and performance are based on the fact that mixed teams are capable of more creativity, innovation and problem solving. This is mainly due to the fact that women and men contribute a variety of perspectives, life and work experiences and skills. One manager describes his experience this way: "We notice for ourselves that when it comes to leadership, for example, this costs us versatility. That we leave creativity behind, that we miss out on new ideas or approaches that we might otherwise have had. We notice that it helps us a lot when we have women whom we can inspire and develop into responsible positions and leadership roles".

This greater diversity of perspectives leads to better and more sustainable results. But "you have to disagree with each other more often. It's not always the easier way, but the bottom line is that the result is always better." There are "simply new thoughts, new knowledge, new ways of working, new techniques coming in", as opposed to the more uniform views of a homogenous group: "If we are only among men, where it is known that we all tick in the same way, we are also all in sync. If you suddenly get such "disruptive factors", then you also get more quality, and then in principle the result is also much more interesting".

According to the managers in our study, this leadership philosophy is based on "an incredibly good and positive exchange in the group", whose group dynamics are based on the diversity of opinions and behaviour, which in turn results in "a certain balance of decisions". In doing so, "certain topics or conflicts are dealt with differently - not just with muscle power or volume".

In summary, it was emphasized that "if we really want to become more innovative, we need to have diverse teams that think innovatively". On this subject of the importance of innovation and diversity in the workplace, one manager said: "I believe that this inspires the teams".

Cooperation as the basis for success

To inspire teams and deliver outstanding results, you need to cooperate. It is only when people are satisfied and enjoy their work, that they will be creative, efficient and stay healthy. In combination with having mixed teams, a positive feeling towards the workplace has a good effect on the working atmosphere. According to one of the male managers: "The team suddenly gets a completely different 'groove' when a woman is in it. A "different culture" is created and "the social climate is cultivated much more actively". In other words, women bring in the so-called "soft skills", i.e. they take care of colleagues' birthdays or start collecting gifts. At the same time, another male manager critically reflects on this: "You simply pass it on (a caring attitude towards colleagues) to them and take it for granted. But that is absolutely essential for a culture of togetherness. This must also be measured in terms of performance. It's something I really, really appreciate, but it's not in the job description anywhere. Neither does the perception of subliminal conflicts, or when colleagues are unhappy, which is emphasized as a great advantage in view of one's own lack of competence: "I have zero emotional intelligence, absolutely none. I have Ms X in my team who has lots and lots of it. I use her as my chief emotional officer.”

Equality as Perpetuum Mobile for a New Normality

For both women and men in management positions, equality is both a prerequisite and the result of the advantages described above. In a way, it is like a perpetuum mobile: more equality in the company results in more equality in the company results in more equality in the company results in more...

It has become apparent in our data sample that managers want a new normality in which there is no pressure to conform to conventional role models. If, for example, the man works part-time, "the first thing you have to do is explain yourself. I am asked ‘so what do you do all the time’? Both have to explain themselves: Men must explain why they work so little and women must explain why they work so much. My wife has always worked 100% and people ask us: 'You have two children, why did you bring them into the world?' Then they always look at my wife, not at me! I think that's crazy!"

In order to reduce the pressure of justification, women express the hope that communication "brings a normality to the topic", and that "the family can also have a place at work including understanding why an employee has to go home a little earlier or is a little late in the morning". For male managers, this work/life balance is also accompanied by a changed understanding of leadership in which it must be ensured "that people don't blow us off” with a better work/life balance. Subsequently, this results in demands on managers: not only to define themselves through four hours of sleep - that would be counterproductive. But because, you're burning out your people if you keep throwing unnecessary e-mails around all the time.

To summarise the findings from our study, it is apparent that in order to build a more sustainable work environment for both men and women we need to redefine what is a “normal” successful work environment. But it's not only mutual understanding for each other and a changed management style that is necessary. Family responsibility (with accompanying absences due to maternity and parental leave), can, in some cases, lead to professional disadvantages (which is definitely not a situation that builds excellence or job satisfaction). The prerequisites for a fairer distribution of parental leave between mothers and fathers, as it is the case in Germany for example, are seen by managers here in Switzerland as desirable, but at the same time they admit: "We are actually still in the Stone Age here”. It's time to change that.

The male managers we spoke with in our study stressed the importance of having diverse decision-making groups encouraging cooperation and flexibility. They acknowledged the benefits of these ethical considerations for the well-being of the company and emphasized that shaping equality begins with themselves: "WE have to create the framework conditions that make equality work!" one enlightened manager said.

Literatur

Many of the topics in this article all stem from the following book chapter: Gertraude Krell und Barbara Sieben: Diversity Management: Chancengleichheit für alle und auch als Wettbewerbsvorteil, in: Krell, Gertraude/ Ortlieb, Renate/ Sieben, Barbara (Hrsg.) (2011): Chancengleichheit durch Personalpolitik, 6. Aufl., Wiesbaden, S. 155-174.

In German:

von Julia Nentwich und Gabriele Schambach

Wir starteten schweizweit – und sogar international – die erste Befragung von Führungskräften zu Engagement und Aktivitäten männlicher Manager für Gleichstellung.

Wir freuen uns, dass die Handelszeitung als unser Projektpartner diesen Artikel in der Printausgabe am 11. Juni 2020 und am 13. Juni 2020 in der Online-Ausgabe veröffentlicht hat.

«Leaders for Equality: Führungskräfte nutzen Chancen

Warum es für einen höheren Frauenanteil in Kaderpositionen das Engagement männlicher Führungskräfte braucht erforscht ein Team an der Universität St. Gallen in Projektpartnerschaft mit der Handelszeitung und der Schweizer Kader Organisation SKO

Denke ich an Gleichstellung, denke ich an Frauen. Ein nachvollziehbarer und naheliegender Reflex. Denn im Management Schweizer Unternehmen ist der Frauenanteil nach wie vor äusserst gering. Und je höher die Hierarchiestufe, umso weniger Frauen gibt es. Verständlicherweise ergreifen Unternehmen deshalb Massnahmen für Frauen zur besseren Vereinbarkeit von Karriere und Familie, zur Kompetenzerweiterung mittels Mentoring- und Training, zur Bildung von Frauennetzwerken etc. Und dennoch: Der Frauenanteil hat sich bisher noch nicht deutlich steigern lassen. Warum ist das so?

Ganz offensichtlich greift hier die Annahme zu kurz, dass der alleinige Fokus auf Frauen die Situation verändern wird. Einzelmassnahmen für Frauen reichen nicht aus. Zumal diese meist darauf ausgerichtet sind, dass sich die Frauen verändern und an die Gegebenheiten der Unternehmen anpassen. Es  braucht jedoch weitaus mehr als das: eine gleichstellungsorientierte Organisationsentwicklung und den Einbezug der (meist) männlichen Führungskräfte als wichtigen Gestaltern von Veränderung im Unternehmen. Und dies bedeutet umzudenken:

Denke ich an Gleichstellung, denke ich an Männer

Eine Assoziation, die nicht reflexartig geschieht. Und manchmal auch nicht nach längerem Nachdenken. Denn Männer stellen ja schliesslich die Mehrheit in Kaderpositionen. Was haben sie also mit Gleichstellung zu tun?

Wenn wir Gleichstellung als gemeinsames Anliegen von Frauen und Männern begreifen, geraten auch Männer in den Fokus: Gerade weil sie die Mehrheit in Führungspositionen bilden, sind sie  – quantitativ wie qualitativ – eine einflussreiche Stakeholder-Gruppe und eine für Gleichstellungsinitiativen bisher kaum genutzte Ressource. Können sie als Unterstützer, Botschafter, Nutzniesser und Promotoren gewonnen werden, die die Vorteile von Gleichstellung für das Unternehmen sowie für sich als Personen erkennen und weitertragen, verändert sich das Unternehmen und Gleichstellung für Frauen und Männer wird in einem grösseren Ausmass Wirklichkeit.

Wissen als Grundvoraussetzung

Damit dies gelingen kann, braucht es erst einmal Wissen über den derzeitigen Zustand. Davon gibt es jedoch erstaunlich wenig. Während sich zahlreiche Untersuchungen mit Frauen in Führungspositionen beschäftigten, ist das Wissen über die Rolle männlicher Führungskräfte im deutschsprachigen Raum äußerst dürftig. Obwohl angelsächsische Forschungen deutlich darauf hinweisen, dass männliche Führungskräfte eine entscheidende Rolle für den Gleichstellungsprozess spielen, liegt uns für die Schweiz bisher keine einzige Studie vor. Diesen Missstand wollen wir verändern!

Machen Sie mit: Führungskräftebefragung

Um herauszufinden, welchen Beitrag Führungskräfte in der Schweiz zur Gleichstellung leisten (können), führen wir die schweizweit (und auch international) erste Online-Befragung auf deutsch, englisch, französisch und italienisch durch.

Wir möchten von Ihnen wissen, wie Sie als männliche Führungskraft Ihr Unternehmen in Sachen Gleichstellung einschätzen, ob und warum Sie sich für Gleichstellung einsetzen, was Sie gegebenenfalls daran hindert und welche Aktivitäten Sie bereits umsetzen oder sich vorstellen können zu tun. Frauen in Führungspositionen sind herzlich eingeladen, uns ihre Wahrnehmung der männlichen Führungskräfte im Unternehmen mitzuteilen.

Wir freuen uns, wenn Sie dazu beitragen, die bestehenden Wissenslücken zu schliessen: Beteiligen Sie sich an der Befragung.

Eine Toolbox für Schweizer Unternehmen

Die Ergebnisse der Umfrage sind Grundlage einer online zugänglichen «Toolbox». Darin werden Strategien, Konzepte und Instrumente enthalten sein, die sowohl auf den Umfrage-Ergebnissen als auch auf den Erkenntnissen der am Projekt beteiligten Unternehmen basieren. In der Feller AG und Schneider Electrics (Schweiz) AG, den Helvetia Versicherungen, der Genossenschaft Migros Ostschweiz und den Schweizerischen Bundesbahnen SBB haben wir bereits mit Führungskräften diskutiert und werden darauf aufbauend Interventionen erarbeiten, um männliche Führungskräfte in Gleichstellungsanliegen einzubeziehen. Alle am Projekt beteiligten Unternehmen verfolgen bereits eine Reihe von Aktivitäten zur Förderung der Gleichstellung sowie zur Erhöhung des Frauenanteils - und machen sich ergänzend jetzt auf den Weg, neue Ideen und Inspirationen zu finden. Damit tragen sie dazu bei, dass männliche Führungskräfte in Schweizer Unternehmen zukünftig die Gleichstellung aktiver gestalten und zur Erhöhung des Frauenanteils in Managementpositionen beitragen (können).

Prof. Dr. Julia Nentwich und Dr. Gabriele Schambach leiten das Projekt «Leaders for Equality» an der Universität St. Gallen, das vom Eidgenössischen Büro für die Gleichstellung von Frau und Mann mit Finanzhilfen nach dem Gleichstellungsgesetz unterstützt wird. In Partnerschaft mit der Schweizer Kader Organisation SKO und der Handelszeitung werden sie an dieser Stelle fortan monatlich über die im Projekt gewonnenen neuen Erkenntnisse und Erfahrungen berichten.

Imagine the Corona crisis is over. Everything is the same as before. Is this what we really want? Or don't we rather want to transfer the positive experiences into a permanent new leadership practice that has clear gender-equitable potentials?

by Gabriele Schambach and Julia Nentwich

The current crisis is questioning the previous way of working and leading and leads to intense confusion. Over the last weeks, everyone who has been able to work from home did so. What many managers previously thought was impossible, unthinkable, and unfeasible has suddenly become a very concrete reality.
Thanks to the (mostly) stable internet connections and the excellent work from the colleagues of the IT departments, it is possible to work (to a large extent) effectively from outside of the office. Moreover, most of us showed a steep learning curve when using digital tools for virtual collaboration and exchange. At the same time, however, the forms of cooperation and, above all, leadership have changed dramatically.

What now appears so sudden and new, however, already has a long tradition of conceptualisation and realisation known as "New Work": The current situation might be unprecedented, yet, further proof that we live in a VUCA world that is characterised by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity.
Even without the virus, informatisation and digitalisation, rapid technological change, and rising globalisation significantly increase the unpredictability for economic actors. What emerged in China has had significant consequences in Europe (and around the world) and led to new and unexpected challenges for organizations.
Traditional forms of work are reaching their limits, and more flexible ways of cooperation have become necessary. These are concepts that have already been discussed and tested for some time embraced by the terms "New Work" or "Work 4.0". As a result of this, also, our understanding of leadership and expectations towards leaders and managers are changing.

If we take a closer look at leadership, we consider two already widely discussed aspects as crucial: Trust instead of control and care instead of work-life separation. In our opinion, both approaches are promising from a gender equality perspective.

Trust instead of control

Reading the daily press, it is noticeable that control is considered an essential management tool – ensured by the presence on-site. The vast majority of employees are now working from home, which comes with a frightening loss of control for the management.
However, it has always been illusive to think that managers could (better) control their employees on-site because, after all, it is also possible to sit in the office and think about or do something else. Because (hopefully) nobody has ever checked the effectiveness of every mouse click, received a copy of every e-mail, or had daily results reported every evening.

The solution is not the "perfection of control", but rather the contrary: More trust. Being confident that the employees will fulfil their assignments at home precisely with the same quality as they did in the office.
To achieve this, it is necessary to agree on clear and measurable goals and to decide about reachability, reaction times, priorities, and agreements within the team. Those measures reduce the "control mania" and the "illusion of control" and enable the assessment of performance, rather than presence. This approach is critical if the home office should become a success for everyone.

Trust is also essential in concepts of the "New Work". It is assumed that in a VUCA world, decisions are increasingly made decentralised and with less formalisation. This argumentation is based on the assumption that individual top managers are no longer able to grasp the entire spectrum of decisions and make the ideal decision in every respect. In combination with more flexible work forms, such as the home office, the classic management style of 'command and control' has thus become obsolete (Bruch et al. 2016: 7, INQA 2014: 7).

Care instead of work-life separation

Cooperation also appears as an essential topic in the press: Not all employees are comfortable working in their own four walls for longer periods. Most start missing their colleagues after a few days. There is a lack of social exchange, jointly developed routines and habits. For some, physical distancing carries the risk of social isolation. Others face the challenge of reconciling family and children at home. Some tend to take fewer breaks to be always reachable or to finish earlier, and in that sense, demand too much of themselves in the process.
This behaviour is where managers are required to look after the physical and mental well-being of their employees – an aspect which, in contrast to "normal" everyday management practice, now receives extraordinary attention.

The organisation of work now requires first and foremost more communication rather than less. Although work in the home office may seem more relaxed and casual, it requires more precise arrangements and guidelines from managers. It is now no longer possible to informally exchange two or three sentences after a meeting. Regular contact is needed with the premise: Fewer e-mails, more telephone calls, and even more video calls. Weekly video calls about the status of assignments quickly reveal when something is not right and needs to be adjusted – which also relieves the perceived loss of control. Regular video calls with the entire team also maintain the team spirit and make project progress visible. The lack of physical presence of the manager is now compensated by increased communication.

In addition to the organisation of work, new forms of informal exchange are needed. Especially, virtual "tea rooms" or digital "coffee breaks" appear to be in vogue: To meet in the morning or afternoon in a corresponding group chat or virtual meeting room to exchange light and more private information, and just to chat a little about things outside the daily business. Moreover, weekly virtual after-work drinks, online birthday parties, individual pizza deliveries for the entire team on Friday lunch should also be on the agenda.

Thirdly, the interpersonal level becomes increasingly important: When managers proactively ask in a personal video call how the person is doing, the facial expression and posture alone provide information about the employee's emotional state. Active listening thus becomes an essential key competence for managers. Asking about the mood and satisfaction of the employees is mainly – but not only – vital in the home office, because only balanced and satisfied people are productive and efficient. If, on the other hand, there is cause for concern, the manager must act. Showing that even managers are not immune to bad patches helps to let everyone know that displaying weakness is not a disgrace.

Since the video conversations and virtual team meetings now take place in the home environment, everyone also gains more insights into the private life of their peers. Those new findings create a greater connection between work and life. And what previously seemed marginal in management practice is now gaining importance: Caring for the employees.

Frederic Laloux (2015) conceptualizes these aspects in his holistic approach: He believes that the greater visibility of private concerns and feelings in traditional work relationships will lead to the recognition of more significant parts of the individual personality – in other words, a greater integration of "life" into "work" (see BMAS 2015).
A prerequisite for this is that organisations create the necessary framework for revealing the full personality and understand participation in the community as the crucial value. What is needed, therefore, is an understanding of leadership that puts employees at the centre and aspects referred to as "soft factors" as key for people collaborating in everyday business life (Laloux 2015).

Making the management of the future more gender-equitable

Trust, communication, and care are traditionally not substantial attributes and competencies of leaders. Until now, rationality, toughness, assertiveness, competitive orientation, and the ability to separate personal and emotional sensitivities have instead been asked for. These elements of a "heroic leadership style", as already criticised by Peter Dachler (2010) since the 1990s, are all considered male and associated with men.

On the other hand, women (in management positions) are attributed to the "new" described competencies – but rightly criticised at the same time as a stereotypical image (Billing & Alvesson 2014: 209). Nevertheless, the new understanding of leadership can lead to the fact that more women will have a chance to get into a leadership position. This development is possible because the previously existing incompatibility or general mismatch between "women's competencies" and "management competencies" appears to be becoming more permeable (ibid.: 214). Although the current changes in the understanding of leadership often do not explicitly address equality and women, it is nevertheless evident that those competencies that are rather associated with women are now undoubtedly in demand.

The currently observed "de-masculinisation" (ibid.: 202) of leadership also gives men and male managers the chance to try out new forms of masculinity. Indeed, there are indications that the behaviour of managers and leaders appears to be a response to the expectations of employees, organisational norms and management guidelines (and less to different socialisation experiences of women and men). The gender of managers is, therefore, less significant and not an essential disposition for new leadership (ibid. 209). Thus, men can also use the opportunity of shaping leadership in new and gender-equitable ways.

Home office enables more equality

Until now, people working in the home office have always been suspected of lying on the sofa or doing the household instead of doing their job. This mistrust could be a reason why the home office is still not widely accepted within companies, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and, therefore, it has not been a mass phenomenon until recently. According to the Swiss Labour Force Survey (Schweizerische Arbeitskräfteerhebung - SAKE) of 2019, only 25% of employees worked at least occasionally from home. Even though many more employees wanted to work from home, but they were simply not allowed to do so (Weichbrodt, Berset, Schläppi 2016).

For the period after the crisis, it is assumed in the press articles that employees will increasingly ask for the opportunity to work from home, so that a mixed form of home and office presence will be established. This demanded change also bears advantages for companies: The employees work more focused and thus more efficient and productive, and besides that even more satisfied, precisely, among other things, because of the newly created degrees of freedom to just go for a run in-between. Moreover, employer attractiveness also increases. Companies that do not offer home office will find it more challenging to find employees in the future.

In addition to greater autonomy and working time flexibility, the home office also enables to reconcile work and family life (BMAS 2017) – and is hence, from an equality perspective alone already desirable. The time that is not used for commuting to work is transferred into family time. The higher degree of self-organisation of work makes it possible to do housework in-between, which helps to calm down the very busy housework and family time right after work and on weekends. Besides, an equal separation and division of family tasks and professional duties between mothers and fathers can be observed. The home office also makes it possible to return to work earlier or more extensively after the birth of a child, as well as offering a career-friendly alternative to part-time jobs and the possibility of increasing the allotted working hours (ibid: 88).

Home office promotes work-life integration

It is generally agreed that home office and childcare, especially for young children, are not easily reconcilable. However, parents have few alternatives when schools and daycare centres are closed. Alternating the supervision tasks between parents, arranging a clear daily routine with older children, and a separate room with a "please do not disturb" sign are certainly useful tips. But many parents will have found that this is not always feasible – as the BBC's Skype interview with Prof. Robert Kelly, whose children burst into the live broadcast, or, more recently, the interview by Ana Maria Montero of CNN Money Switzerland with Roche CEO Severin Schwan, have shown.

Although the current extreme form of "work-life integration" is extremely stressful, it makes the connection between the "whole life" and the "whole person" more visible. Even managers and employees without children experience their colleagues more holistically by eliminating the spatial (and sometimes temporal) separation of childcare and office work. This development offers the chance for a greater acceptance of family tasks in the understanding of leadership: Absences, sudden interruptions, or part-time work due to sick children will then no longer be seen as a "disturbance of the normal business", but will be perceived as part of the normality of cooperation and "new" leadership.

Due to the current corona-conditioned home office, leadership had to be rethought, and it became immediately necessary to try out new approaches. With the increased acceptance of the home office, new leadership practices have also spread and widely gained recognition. For us, this is also connected with the hope that the exceptional situation will result in an increased steadiness that will further change the world of work and ultimately has a positive effect on gender equality. Let us stay tuned!

This article was also published in mittwochs.online and in a shorter version in the 02/2020 issue of the digital university magazine HSG Focus.

Press review (accessed 10.06.2020)

Bosshard, Karin (2020): Wir sind alle stark, bis wir es nicht mehr sind, in: Handelszeitung, 27.03.2020, https://www.handelszeitung.ch/insurance/wir-sind-alle-stark-bis-wir-es-nicht-mehr-sind

Fischer, Andrea (2020): Diese Regeln gelten fürs temporäre Homeoffice, in: Tagesanzeiger, 06.04.2020, https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/diese-regeln-gelten-fuers-temporaere-homeoffice-759265507790

Gillies, Constantin/ Mair, Stefan (2020): Wegen Corona im Home Office? So klappt es! in: Handelszeitung, 03.03.2020, https://www.handelszeitung.ch/beruf/wegen-corona-im-home-office-so-klappt-es

Griesser Kym, Thomas (2020): Produktiv arbeiten im Homeoffice: So kann das gelingen, in: Tagblatt, 26.03.2020, https://www.tagblatt.ch/wirtschaft/produktiv-arbeiten-im-home-office-so-kann-das-gelingen-ld.1207867

Hoffmann, Maren (2020): Führen aus dem Homeoffice "Die Angst, Kontrolle zu verlieren, ist ganz normal", in: Spiegel online, 11.03.2020, https://www.spiegel.de/karriere/fuehren-aus-dem-homeoffice-die-angst-kontrolle-zu-verlieren-ist-ganz-normal-a-3ca69c76-a039-40e2-91fa-0c27fca5ad9f

Knecht, Andreas (2020: Ziehst Du morgens Jogginghosen an, stimmt was nicht, in: Tagesanzeiger, 18.03.2020, https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wirtschaft/karriere/ziehst-du-morgens-jogginghosen-an-stimmt-die-einstellung-nicht/story/23179418

Kofler, Karin (2020): Hoffentlich gehen die Vorurteile gegen Homeoffice zurück, in: Tagesanzeiger, 15.03.2020, https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/sonntagszeitung/hoffentlich-gehen-die-vorurteile-gegen-homeoffice-jetzt-zurueck/story/29132406

Mair, Stefan (2020): Home Office und Angst vor der Rezession: Ein fataler Cocktail, in: Handelszeitung, 31.03.2020, https://www.handelszeitung.ch/beruf/home-office-und-angst-vor-der-rezession-ein-fataler-cocktail

Mair, Stefan (2020): «Viele organisieren auch regelmässig virtuelle Kaffeepausen», in: Handelszeitung, 13.04.2020, https://www.handelszeitung.ch/beruf/viele-organisieren-auch-regelmassig-virtuelle-kaffeepausen

Literature

Billing, Yvonne Due/ Alvesson, Mats (2014): Leadership: A Matter of Gender?, in: The Oxford Handbook of Gender in Organizations, March 2014, DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199658213.013.009

BMAS – Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziale (2017): Digitalisierung – Chancen und Herausforderungen für die partnerschaftliche Vereinbarkeit von Familie und Beruf, Berlin, https://www.bmfsfj.de/blob/75934/433b3a05df543f87bd2cce88ae6c7cf6/digitalisierung-chancen-und-herausforderungen-data.pdf (Zugriff: 09.06.2020).

Bruch, Heike/Block, Christina/ Färber, Jessica (2016): Top-Job Trendstudie 2016. Arbeitswelt im Umbruch. Von den erfolgreichen Pionieren lernen, Konstanz, http://www.interchange-michalik.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Trendstudie_Neue_Arbeitswelt.pdf (Zugriff 09.06.2020)

Dachler, H. Peter (2010): "Chapter 3 From Individualism to Post-heroic Practices in Organizational Research", in: Steyaert, Chris/ Van Looy, Bart (Hrsg.): Relational Practices, Participative Organizing (Advanced Series in Management, Vol. 7), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 41-53. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1877-6361(2010)0000007007.

INQA - Initiative Neue Qualität der Arbeit (2014): Monitor: Führungskultur im Wandel. Initiative Neue Qualität der Arbeit, https://www.inqa.de/SharedDocs/downloads/fuehrungskultur-im-wandel.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2 (Zugriff 09.06.2020)

Laloux, Frederic (2015): Reinventing Organizations. Ein Leitfaden zur Gestaltung sinnstiftender Formen der Zusammenarbeit, München: Verlag Franz Vahlen GmbH.

Weichbrodt, Johann/ Berset, Martial/ Schläp, Michael (2016): FlexWork Survey 2016: Befragung von Erwerbstätigen und Unternehmen in der Schweiz zur Verbreitung mobiler Arbeit, Olten, August 2016, https://irf.fhnw.ch/bitstream/handle/11654/24099/Weichbrodt, Berset, Schläppi - 2016 - FlexWork Survey 2016 Befragung von Erwerbstätigen und Unternehmen in der Schweiz zur Verbreitung m.pdf?sequence=1 (Accessed: 09.06.2020)

by Julia Nentwich

Men are increasingly committed to promoting gender equality. They support women as work colleagues, strive for equality in partnerships and aim for a fair division of labour in the family. At the same time, men are unclear about how much they want to be publicly exposed (in society or in the company) with regards to their solidarity towards gender equality. They are preoccupied with how they are perceived by other men and whether their commitment puts their masculinity in question. There is  another uncertainty concerning the extent to which they are welcomed by women to participate in work around gender equality: although men themselves recognise the importance of gender equality issues, their relationship towards gender equality appears to be ambivalent. How does this develop?

Working for equality can be risky, for both men and women. In order to achieve changes, gender equality questions what has been taken for granted - questioning these norms causes uncertainty among work colleagues and in the beginning of this questioning phase, is not especially appreciated or well received. One makes themselves unpopular and becomes vulnerable. This affects both women and men in different ways. For example, when a female colleague openly addresses first hand discrimination, whether personally experienced or observed, she risks being portrayed as "frustrated" or "hysterical" (Morley, 1994). The reactions of others are often very emotional and hurtful (Wahl et al., 2014) and question female perception in general, if not the  intellectual ability of person questioning that which has always been taken for granted. Standing up against discrimination is by no means always and everywhere positively received.         

When men openly advocate equality issues, they also make themselves vulnerable. They put themselves at risk of not being taken seriously, being palliated, being judged as "too soft”, and labelled as "emotional". Men, however, are affected by these reactions in different ways. They usually have a much smaller pool of experience with situations in which they do not belong or are not part of the majority. At the same time, in such moments they lose the support of the group of male colleagues with whom they previously (presumably) felt a natural sense of belonging through their gender. This  might be experienced as a form of isolation where one is moving in unknown territory and feels insecure.

Moreover, men who advocate for gender equality not only challenge the people specifically involved in the situation, they also put themselves at war with the prevailing assumptions of hegemonic masculinity. They are indirectly or directly challenged with questions like, “why does he suddenly question what is taken for granted?” Or “why does he turn against his male colleagues’ viewpoints?” As such “leaving” the “herd” is often interpreted as a betrayal, not only of that specific group of men, but also by the companies’ norm or culture of masculinity. Therefore, a commitment to equality does not always mean fame and honour and could even lead to exclusion that might jeopardise the next career development.

The observations of the Finnish management professor Janne Tienari clearly illustrate this (Tienari & Taylor, 2019). If his colleagues discover that he - as a man - is dealing with gender and equality issues in his research, it caused irritation. Irritation because the research is then considered less interesting and less scientific. It is also irritating on a second level. Because he, as a man, is perceived as not investing his interests in career-promoting topics, his vocational ambitions are doubted as well. These irritations and doubts somehow take men’s manliness away. Hegemonic masculinity is - and must be - challenged here. However, because it is questioned, the challenging individual pays an individualised price for it.

Many men want to work for gender equality and recognise that they can also benefit individually from gender equality. The "business case" is more than clear, and as managers, men naturally feel committed to the company's goals - for example to increasing the proportion of women at all levels. At the same time, however, it can be difficult for men, because of their gender, to actively commit themselves to these goals. The women's movements and feminist theory developments have paved the way for women to develop a ground which, while not easy and fraught with risks, offers at least a collective identity that makes it easier to take on clear positions. Men lack precisely this broad and publicly disseminated movement that links individual male identity with the political goals of a collective. A similar development for men would be important and could provide men with more support.

A solution to this  situation of ambivalence for men, could be the path outlined by Tienari and Taylor (2019). Management researchers, Tienari and Taylor are also concerned with gender equality issues and discuss their personal approach to these challenges in a reflection published in the academic journal "Organization". Scott Taylor refers to the distinction introduced by the US-American feminist Bell Hooks (2000): Feminism is not directed against men, but pursues the goal of establishing equality and preventing discrimination. Here, Hooks disconnects the political concern of feminist approaches to overcome inequalities from the assumptions that discrimination only affects women and therefore must be promoted exclusively by women. Moreover, Hooks brings into perspective that women are not a cohort of equality and certainly their understandings and experiences with discrimination do not agree with each other on every aspect. If one understands equality in this sense as a political concern, then all people - and also men - can and  should stand up for equality and against inequality.

For Scott Taylor this distinction is critical (Tienari & Taylor, 2019). It is not correct for Taylor to label himself a "feminist", as this is connected with a gender identity which he does not share as a man. Nevertheless, he can say loud and clear that he shares and supports feminist concerns and the political demands associated with them. He also uses the findings and theoretical positions of feminist theories to identify and expose injustice and discrimination. Supporting feminist concerns for him means addressing and absorbing previously unconsidered or blind spots in his own working context of management research. Supporting equality becomes something that people who can identify with the goals of anti-discrimination and justice can do. He explains, "I feel ontologically secure as a man, but I want to disrupt the behaviours I associate with the uglier aspects of masculinities, such as anti-feminist, sexist or misogynist acts, for personal and politicial reasons" (Tienari & Taylor, 2019, p. 951). In the way pointed out by Scott Taylor, men can also gain access and thus the necessary "backing" from feminist movements: "Feminism is for everyone"! (Hooks, 2000). This does not make the commitment to equality any less risky, and it means that you are no longer completely alone!

Hooks, B. (2000) Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics. Cambridge, MA: South End Press.

Morley, L. (1994) Glass Ceiling or Iron Cage: Women in UK Academia. Gender, Work and Organization 1(4), 194–204.

Tienari, J., & Taylor, S. (2019). Feminism and men: Ambivalent space for acting up. Organization, 26(6), 948–960.

Wahl, A. et al. (2014). Male Managers Challenging and Reinforcing the Male Norm in Management. NORA 22(2), 131-146.

by Julia Nentwich

We know far more about the practices of male colleagues in the  workplace that hinder equality  than what we know about the practices that promote equality. In my last blog post I elaborated on the beneficial practices of - mostly male – managers. Today, once again, I am writing about discrimination yet my particular focus here, is on explaining why discrimination happens. It is interesting to note, first of all, that discriminatory practices are often very subtle. It is not so much the clearly discriminatory, sexist comments or even assaults by male colleagues that are at the centre of  this discussion (even if they still play a role and are by no means history), but rather practices that mostly go unnoticed as they are perceived as normal. The objective here is to show the effects of everyday practices that are often not reflected upon and not to accuse all men of discriminatory practices.

            In her review article the British organisational scholar Elisabeth Kelan (2018) identified four key behaviours that cause women to experience discrimination in the workplace:

1. men creating connection with other men.

2. men distancing themselves from women.

3. men impressing others

4. men showing heroic behaviour, for example by being available longer than everyone else in the office.

These are all practices that take place among men, are initially intended for an audience of men and are known in gender studies as "hegemonic masculinity".

But first things first! In the work place men exclude women in particular by allying themselves with other men and by distancing themselves from women - often without realising it. To use a very stereotypical example: They meet with colleagues for a beer after work - and since it was previously a purely male gathering, they "forget" to invite their new female colleague to join them. Other examples are "typically male" topics of conversation such as football, Formula 1, cars or technology, or the enthusiastic listening to contributions from male colleagues - and ignoring contributions from women. Pixar's film "Purl", released last year, vividly illustrates some of these classic examples.

The practices described above correspond to the mechanisms of "hegemonic" masculinity, i.e. a masculinity that acts as a norm, as identified by Raewyn Connell (1995) already in the 1990s - a certain heroic form of masculinity is to be aspired to by all men as an ideal form. This is defined, on the one hand, by the demarcation of femininity, but also of masculinities that do not correspond to this ideal. Male identity is therefore primarily produced among men - through continual comparisons between men, as well as with the ideal image. However, it is not conclusive  if the individual man simply conforms to the ideal image or just wants to be seen as a “real” or "hegemonic man" . What is essential is that the currently prevailing normative structure provides this possibility for him and that other men in particular could measure him against this ideal image. "Hegemonic masculinity" is thus to be understood as a powerful regulation of male identity.

Central to this understanding of masculine identity is, as already mentioned, that it is primarily produced among men. Women simply do not take part in this game. It also seems to make little sense to talk to women about masculinity. Because men primarily interact with men to establish their male identity, and, as women are excluded here, discrimination from this perspective finally turns out being  "collateral damage". The resulting discrimination is an effect that is neither intended, nor planned or targeted behaviour.

However, it is these practices that of course need to be questioned if gender relations in  both the workplace and society are to be changed. Moreover, the images of masculinity perpetuated here belong to the lumber room rather than a present day innovative business. But that is not what I am getting at here. What is important to me at this point is that the lens of hegemonic masculinity allows us to see that women are often excluded and discriminated against in companies – and most often without their male colleagues even noticing.  Men, along with their male colleagues, superiors and employees are sometimes guilty of being too busy doing what they have always done. That women do not play along when it comes to creating masculinity, is too obvious to be noticed.

Questioning constructions of masculinity and individual routines of creating a male identity in everyday practices is therefore a powerful instrument for prevention. However, it is necessary to also change the corporate culture in which we work: how do we interact if the interaction is not about producing heroes, winners or displays of strength and power? What kind of identities can we offer for  new more sustainable and inclusive ways of collaborating? From this perspective, finding alternatives to hegemonic masculinity is an important key to being able to promote more women into leading positions in the future. In our project "Leaders for Equality" we are investigating how these alternatives might look like and which other forms of masculinities can already be observed in corporate work places. We will report on these results in this blog soon! Stay tuned.

Connell, R. W. (1995). Masculinities. University of California Press.

Kelan, E. K. (2018). Men Doing and Undoing Gender at Work: A Review and Research Agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(2), 544–558.

by Julia Nentwich

The organizational scholar Elisabeth Kelan has conducted research in the UK about what male managers can do to foster gender equality in their company. In a systematic literature review, Kelan (2018) distinguishes two basic practices: Firstly, "gender-exclusive" practices, i.e. those practices that actually produce inequality. We know a lot about these practices as they have been well documented. Second, the less frequently studied "gender-inclusive" practices that actually promote equality. For our project “leaders for equality” gender-exclusive practices are relevant as they must either be omitted or transformed into inclusive practices in order to foster equal opportunities for both women and men. However, as we have already heard a lot about the problems of exclusion so far, I am dedicating today’s blog exclusively to the gender-inclusive practices.

In her study, Kelan (2015) identifies middle management as the central "linchpin" between top management and the lower levels of the hierarchy. It is this middle management in particular, and thus their everyday practices that are crucial for driving the organizational change needed. In her study, Kelan accompanied three managers for one week and observed their everyday routines, rituals and interactions. This “job shadowing” allowed her to depict those practices that are often unnoticed by the people involved and are also rarely reflected upon. The observations were supplemented by 23 interviews with various colleagues of each of the three managers respectively.

Kelan identifies a total of four different areas in which the managers she observed got engaged and had developed supportive practices, thus fundamentally showing that the everyday practices of managers are crucial for the advancement of women.

1. Celebrating and Encouraging Women
By encouraging women individually, e.g. to take on a new role or extra responsibility, women become more visible in the company and their skills and successes are more widely recognised within the company. According to Kelan's observation, managers need to be aware that women often behave more cautiously or are less likely to come forward and take on a new task. For the managers she accompanied, for example, it is a matter of course not only to make female employees aware of exciting tasks or the next career step, but also to be tenacious and strongly encourage them be pro active. They also personally search for suitable women when experts are needed for events. In order to make the contributions of women in the company more visible and to increase their colleagues’-awareness, managers also praise their female colleagues in a serious, meaningful way and emphasize their competences and abilities.

2. Calling out Bias
The primary aim of this field of practice is to identify prejudiced statements about women in the workplace and, in a second step, to counteract them. As Kelan shows in detail, this should not mean being confrontational. Rather, it should be brought to the attention of others when a situation is perceived as inappropriate or when a decision seems to be based on stereotypical perceptions. According to Kelan, prejudice and stereotypes have a discriminatory effect especially when they are tacitly accepted or tolerated. Questioning prejudice therefore has the potential to change working relationships and organizational culture towards equality

3. Championing and Defending Gender Initiatives
According to Kelan's observations, an important field in which the commitment of male managers in particular has a major impact is that of internal gender parity initiatives. If men show initiative here by attending and engaging in events, or by supporting the initiative of other men and, in case of doubt, defending it against critics, the importance of gender initiatives in the company increases significantly. In everyday corporate life, men are ascribed greater objectivity and are less likely to see the personal relevance when it comes to the topic of equality - even if this does is not the case for each individual. The commitment and acknowledging statements of male colleagues are perceived as significant, especially by men in the company.

4. Challenging Working Practices
A fourth area Kelan identifies as crucial is the role of male middle managers to change existing working practices. The managers she researched clearly stated that today's workplaces are not designed for today's lifestyles. However, many companies stick to traditional practices: 24/7 availability, culture of presence, full-time as a career requirement, uninterrupted working patterns, etc. This is where the commitment of male managers is needed. How visibly and credibly do they themselves practice a convincing "work-life balance"? To what extent are they available to their employees at "eye level", how responsive are they to various, also private, concerns? Kelan's study clearly shows that organizational change, towards more equal opportunities in the company, needs more convincing role models facilitating it.

With her research, Kelan in our eyes successfully and convincingly demonstrates that equality begins in manager’s everyday work practices and this is where we have to focus on if we want to achieve impact. As is so often the case, it is the supposedly "small things" that make a difference here. Our everyday work practices consist of a great many ingrained routine and it is these routines that must first be brought to our attention before they can be changed. Kelan's detailed descriptions of the four topics we have just looked at are crucial in helping us identify the most important areas for equality, enabling to reflect upon our personal behaviour and to develop new practices that support and atively promote women's success.

If you want to have a closer look, we recommend reading the full report. It is written in a very comprehensible manner. The comic stories communicate Kelan’s findings very concisely.

If you are curious to learn about the ways the practices described by Kelan are also relevant in Switzerland, we recommend coming back in a few short months. The online questionnaire we developed to study the relevant leadership practices in Switzerland will soon be sent out. From late summer onwards we will report on the results in this blog, among other things!

Kelan, E. (2015). Linchpin—Men, Middle Managers and Gender Inclusive Leadership (S. 33). Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders.

Kelan, E. K. (2018). Men Doing and Undoing Gender at Work: A Review and Research Agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 20(2), 544–558.

by Julia Nentwich

In our research and intervention project we are tackling male managers’ role in equal opportunities. What do they think about women in management positions in the company and what are they willing to do (or what are they currently doing) to make these opportunities become reality? In this blog post, I explain why the commitment of male managers is particularly important to this issue and how and why it can have a different effect on women's commitment to equal opportunities.

The earliest argument I am aware of stems from Australian gender sociologist Raewyn Connell (2003): Since gender is a relational phenomenon, i.e. masculinity and femininity are in a relationship to each other, they must be changed together. In terms of gender theory, it becomes clear here that understandings of femininity can only be changed in interaction with masculinity, and that therefore change cannot be initiated by women alone. In addition, not only women but also men suffer from the negative effects of current gender relations. In particular, the still valid notions of masculinity have a negative impact, e.g. on the health and life expectancy of men (Scambor et al. 2014).

But how can this general insight be applied to measures to promote equal opportunities in companies? From a change management perspective, managers are crucial to the success of any change initiative. As men still represent the clear majority in leadership positions and especially in upper management, they are important players, on the one hand because of the quantitative ratio, but also because of their powerful positions of influence. In addition, their leadership skills are less questioned, and they are better integrated into central networks than women in comparable positions (Eagly, Gartizia & Carli, 2014). It is this mix of gender and position that makes the support from male managers for gender equality issues so important. Interestingly, there is not much research currently undertaken in this area.

One exception is a study conducted by organizational researcher Jennifer deVries (2015), also stemming from Australia. She selected three interviews with male managers and one interview with a woman in a managerial position from a broader study in order to analyse in greater detail how promoting equal opportunities was perceived differently by these individuals. The analysis of the interviews shows that the male executives are often seen as "one of the boys" - i.e. as someone who belongs to the group of male executives as a matter of course and whose competence in this position is not questioned. This is in contrast to the female manager, who is often perceived as the "token women", and thus gains increased critical scrutiny. In the interviews, discussion arose the fact that women are often assumed to have a self-interest in the topic, whereas men are assumed to have an interest in the matter. As a result, women's involvement is perceived as less legitimate and impactful, while the involvement of their male colleagues is more likely to be explained by rational considerations - such as the fact that gender equality serves the interests of the company.

The results of the interviews confirm the well-established state of research: while women in management positions are additionally questioned and in some cases unduly scrutinized, men are automatically attributed gendered competencies such as leadership and authority (Eagly, Gartizia, Carli & 2014). This gives men's leadership behaviour greater impact than the same behaviour shown by a woman and is even more true when it is a management position in a male-dominated company (Eagly, Karau & Makhijani 1995). As deVries (2015) also shows, the men she interviewed are very successful in using their powerful position for a "good cause": They are committed to equal opportunities and can thus promote and support internal company programs and measures. Equal opportunities are thus perceived more as an important corporate objective. At the same time, however, the commitment also appears to have an effect on the perception of the activities of female colleagues: They are supported in their concerns and their commitment to equal opportunities no longer needs to be as prominent as it used to be. In our view, this is an important step towards the success of these measures!

Connell, R. W. (2003). The Role of Men and Boys in Achieving Gender Equality. United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW).

de Vries, J. A. (2015). Champions of gender equality: Female and male executives as leaders of gender change. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 34(1), 21–36.

Eagly, A. H., Gartzia, L., & Carli, L. L. (2014). Female Advantage: Revisited. In The Oxford Handbook of Gender in Organizations. Oxford University Press.

Eagly, A. H., Karau, S. J., & Makhijani, M. G. (1995). Gender and the effectiveness of leaders: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 117(1), 125–145.

Scambor, E., Bergmann, N., Wojnicka, K., Belghiti-Mahut, S., Hearn, J., Holter, Ø. G., Gärtner, M., Hrženjak, M., Scambor, C., & White, A. (2014). Men and Gender Equality: European Insights. Men and Masculinities, 17(5), 552–577.

by our guest author Nina Locher, student in the HSG Master Program "Management, Organization and Culture".

"Think manager, think male" is still very common

In Switzerland, 80% of management positions are held by men. Furthermore, women are promoted much less frequently (Advance & HSG, 2018) and pay gaps are also still common. The higher the occupational position, the lower the proportion of women and the greater the pay gap between men and women (Federal Statistical Office, 2018). No wonder that stereotypical notions of "good managers" are still widespread. While women are regarded as kind-hearted, caring and sensitive, men are characterized by performance orientation, willingness to take responsibility and rationality (Heilman, 2012). Stereotypical, yes, but quite effective, as we associate this with manager’s characteristics that are more likely to be assigned to men: "think manager think male". Our idea of the good manager is dominated by stereotypical masculine characteristics. Women in management positions find themselves in a dilemma: If they show stereotypical feminine qualities , they are quickly perceived as less competent for a management position. However, if they show the qualities required for a manager, such as assertiveness or ambition, they are perceived as less feminine, which in turn results in a more negative assessment(Eagly & Karau, 2002). No matter what women do, they can't win - prevailing stereotypes prevent them from advancing their careers.

Bias trainings and what they (can) change

An increasing number of companies around the world have recognized this problem and have taken action. “Bias training" is currently a widespread form of intervention. Its aim is to free employees from their conscious and unconscious prejudices and thus ensure equal opportunities in career advancement.

But how do these trainings work and what can we expect from them? In my master thesis I investigated the question of the effectiveness of bias trainings. After initial research into the current state of research, it became clear that effectiveness can only be assessed if two fundamentally different training objectives are distinguished: On the one hand, the change of attitudes, which includes stereotypical ideas of women in management positions as well as their evaluation, on the other hand the change of behaviour, which can then be expressed in decisions made differently. Here it becomes immediately clear that changing individual attitudes alone will not make a decisive difference in decisions for or against the advancement of women as leaders (Noon, 2017). The people who decide on the staffing of top positions must also change their behaviour if something is to change. In my master thesis I therefore differentiated between the following two questions: 1. "Are bias trainings resulting in attitude change?" and 2. "Can bias trainings effect changes in behaviour?".

What does the current state of research tell us?

Fundamentally, the state of research shows that bias trainings are especially effective in creating awareness of diversity and discrimination (Carnes et al., 2015; Majumdar et al., 2004; Moss-Racusin et al., 2016), they contribute to an increase of knowledge (Bezrukova et al., 2016) and, at least in the short term, to change implicit attitudes (Jackson, Hillard & Schneider, 2014; Girod et al., 2016). The implicit attitudes are those that are not explicitly addressed in the situation in question. In contrast to the explicit attitudes, they represent a particularly large research interest. The work of Jackson, Hillard and Schneider (2014), for example, is interesting in this respect. The researchers examined the influence of bias training on attitudes towards women working in typical male disciplines at various universities. In their methodologically exemplary study, they came to the conclusion that bias training is excellent for changing implicit attitudes at short notice. Similarly, Girod, Fassiotto, Grewal, Ku, Sriram, Nosek and Valantine (2016) examined prejudices against women in leadership positions. Their study also shows that bias training can influence implicit attitudes in the short term. The extent to which bias training can be expected to have long-term effects, however, is still unclear and more research is needed.

While the effect of bias training on short-term change in implicit attitudes seems to be clearly demonstrated (Lai et al., 2016), this is less clear for the behavioural effects. However, this is due in particular to the very poor state of research. We have not found a study that exclusively investigates this relationship. Often, certain behavioural adaptations are measured only incidentally in a study that focuses on the analysis of attitude changes. For example, see the study by Forscher, Mitamura, Dix, Cox and Devine (2017). This study shows that people who have undergone bias training are more willing to speak out publicly against a discriminatory contribution than they would have done without the training. The findings of my master thesis clearly show that further research would be necessary for providing evidence about long-term effects and behavioural adjustments resulting from bias training. Furthermore, as far as I know, no study so far has particularly investigated the effect of bias training in the very context of recruitment and promotion decisions.

If bias trainings, then do it right!

Despite these important research gaps  it can be said that bias training has positive effects. For the practical implementation of these trainings it is of course necessary to ascertain which concrete training elements contribute to a training success within a company. Many studies list such beneficial elements for bias interventions. Central to this are all elements that go beyond the change of individual attitudes and address action competences - i.e. behaviour - or are integrated into larger strategic or structural measures such as the management development of a company (Dobbin & Kalev, 2016). In the following I present the most important findings based on my analysis:

- A longer duration of the training can have a positive effect on its effectiveness (e.g. Bezrukova et al., 2016).

- Training should also include the learning of specific action competences and the thematizing of concrete strategies and should not be limited to raising awareness of discrimination and changing attitudes (e.g. Bezrukova et al. 2016; Roberson et al., 2009).

- It is recommended to combine different mediation methods (presentations, discussions etc.) and to make the workshops lively and emotional (e.g. Lai et al., 2016).

- The effectiveness of diversity and bias trainings can be supported by additional structural measures, e.g. the integration of the equality goals into the company goals, or the integration of the workshops into everyday work outside the training context (e.g. Bezrukova et al. 2016; Williamson & Foley, 2018).

- In order to facilitate the transfer of training into everyday working life, competence-based, action-oriented learning should be dealt with in depth in the interventions (e.g. Carnes et al. 2015; Girod et al., 2016; Devine et al., 2012).

- Support from superiors and colleagues is important when conducting training. These have an important influence on the application of transfer strategies (Roberson et al., 2009).

Many of the studies reviewed on bias training provide encouraging results that give us hope for a future in which equal opportunities for women and men in career advancement becomes a reality. However, in order to clarify the question whether bias trainings are actually able to contribute to the permeability of the well-known glass ceiling, additional long-term studies and studies on behavioural adaptations with validated measurement methods are needed. These will be able to answer the question of whether people's attitudes can only be influenced in short-term or if these changes can be sustained over a longer period of time and whether this will actually change behaviour in decision-making situations.

by Gabriele Schambach

Realizing equal opportunities in corporate practice is a highly complex issue. It is easy to lose track of where is the best place to start. Or you become entangled in individual measures without keeping an eye on the overall strategy. The model of organizational levels may help you to see the wood for the trees.

Starting point

There is no company that is "neutral" at a meta-level. This statement does not refer to the question of whether there are "female" organizations. Rather, it is a question of perceiving and highlighting aspects of gender inequalities in companies – and of changing them.

In organizations and companies, a number of individual women and men get involved and put their competences and qualities to work. Together with managers, colleagues and employees, they shape the self-image in areas of responsibility, within their departments, activities, etc. And all that is not gender-neutral!

Organizations and companies are generally not objective entities, as they are formed by people. Gender is a central category that manifests and (re)produces itself in people and cultures as well as in structures and content.


The general concept

I developed the model of organizational levels on the basis of my many years of experience in advising companies and organizations. The concept is based on the idea that organizations and companies are characterized by different levels:


• The level of the person = the individual

• The level of culture= working together

• The level of structure = general conditions and measurements

• The level of content = offers and products

These are not to be understood as a rigid framework, they are rather intertwined and boundaries can become blurred. While each level has its own inner logic, the levels are at the same time mutually dependent. In order to create equal opportunities, changes at all levels are required – in other words, an overall strategy. It is helpful to first look at the individual levels separately and develop suitable measures. They are then considered in their interaction and reassembled in their dependencies. This enables a sorted, clear and structured procedure – which is why I chose the presentation as a puzzle (see image below).

Interdependencies 

The interdependency between the levels is illustrated by the following example; the goal of increasing the proportion of women in management positions: on the individual level of the person, presumably every person has an opinion, expectations or fears. At the level of culture, the "togetherness" of the individuals becomes clear: Is the goal rather rejected? Are devaluations of "alibi women" or "quota women" common among the group? Is the goal supported? For example, is there an open discussion about leadership styles? The level of structure essentially reflects how the other two levels were implemented in the environment: here the conditions become apparent that promote an increase in the proportion of women in management positions.

The model also works the other way around: If the environmental conditions in the firm are arranged to be compatible for all involved, for example, meetings are generally finished by 4 p.m., then on the cultural level this represents firm-wide acceptance that people with family responsibilities may end their work day – without judgmental jokes, remarks or the likes being made, such as "You're probably working only half a day today!” On the individual level, these conditions and cultures then attract people who want to pursue a career without "giving up" their family.
These interdependencies also exist in a less diverse environment: having exclusively full-time working conditions, no flexitime, and requiring physical presence creates a culture, in which only those who "fully sacrifice" themselves to be at the service of the company are regarded as high performers and high potentials, regardless of their (personal) losses. People, who are interested or who wish to pursue a career in these firms, share these common values and arrange their (family) lives accordingly.

These interdependencies also illustrate why some companies offer "the right" framework conditions to, for example, encourage the advancement of women, but at the same time the proportion of women in management positions does not increase: the company's culture lags well behind the (adapted) firm environment. On the level of the person, there are (occasionally) managers, who formally agree with the goals, but do not (or refuse) to understand the meaning behind them. Their mindset makes achieving equal opportunities more difficult, since they may only "wait and see", may not act proactively or even hope that the issue will disappear again.

Each level therefore has its own objective in promoting equal opportunities:

• The level of the person → awareness, knowledge and training

• The level of culture → dismantling of dominant cultures

• The level of structure → changing the environment

• The level of content → consideration of gender aspects within offers and products

The level of the person 

This level focuses on individuals as actors and (re-)producers of (un)equal opportunities. Every person in a company has his or her own biography, reality, background, educational and professional profession, idea of a happy life, of good work, of a successful career and of equal opportunities.
What each individual person thinks and does in private is none of a company's business. But if the organization has set itself the goal of equal opportunities, then it needs managers and employees who promote this goal in their work environment. Under the rubric "sensitization and qualification", it is about

• informing about the effects of social conditions on individual life realities

• raising awareness on (structural) discrimination and disadvantages as well as privileges 

• addressing personal (dis)interest

• the (self-)reflection of stereotypes, prejudices, unconscious bias, role perceptions

• addressing doubts, fears and anxieties

• acquiring gender diversity competences as part of one's professional and social competences

• knowing and learning about appropriate activities and tools to promote equal opportunities.

Experience has shown that each person has his or her own private opinion on the subject of gender diversity and it is good to let them have this opinion. The idea is not to missionize or "re-educate" people – this leads to resistance and defense. A promising approach is to address people in their capacity as managers or employees. Managers in particular have a duty to ensure equal opportunities, amongst other things. By focusing on the professional environment and the task at hand, personal aspects tend to fade into the background. In my opinion, this makes it easier to get involved with gender issues and actively promote transformative measures, particularly for men.

The level of culture 

As I mentioned before, this level refers to how we are collaborating – and how this manifests itself. Organizational culture emerges as a dynamic (learning) process in dealing with challenges in the company’s environment as well as the internal organizing. Throughout this process, preferred orientation patterns and solutions emerge. Assessments of what is regarded as "good" or "bad" emerge, which in turn determine new norms and routines. Culture is about the unspoken and unwritten laws; it is described as a "working atmosphere" or social climate and is perceived rather intuitively and emotionally. Culture is thus also difficult to comprehend, because it is already challenging to put the concept into words. Culture includes, among other things:

• norms and values

• understanding of leadership

• management style

• performance and promotion criteria

• dealing with ideas, innovations, mistakes and conflicts

• communication

• language


Corporate culture is regarded as the central element that determines success or failure of change processes in organizational development – unfortunately, it is also the most difficult level to change!

A single management workshop on the subject of leadership, a reflection seminar on norms and values or an exchange on the mission statement (that is to be developed) are not enough. Changing corporate culture requires continuity and repetition. Through various diverse and creative formats, the level of culture can be investigated from different points of view. It is helpful if one can connect it to tools on the structural level or if suitable formats are developed by workshop participants themselves.

To illustrate this, let us look at the example of introducing the “home office”: On a structural level, we have to aknowledge the concrete working agreements in place. On a personal level, control or trust play a central role, as does our individual attitude towards that measurement. On a cultural level, the issue is a culture of facetime and the self-conception of a manager and his/her leadership style. I cannot force a manager to "finally realize" that home office has many advantages for everyone involved. Nor can I nail the company agreement to his/her forehead so that he/she can implement it. Those who don't want to are clever at finding loopholes and ways out. Instead, for example, it would be better advised to:

• encourage the Board of Directors or management to lead by example

• portray role models and communicate (internally) about pilot projects 

• communicate (internally) the advantages of Home Office for companies, executives and employees

• illustrate in an annual presentation (e.g. in the annual report) the proportion of working time within the company spent in home office, per area and per department

• publish an online quiz with humorous questions and possible answers – with a subsequent presentation of the results (prepared anonymously) 

• put up information displays, posters or stickers with "Have you considered working from home today?!"

• In the case of obligatory recurring executive meetings, put the topic on the agenda each time – with a different orientation, for example, taking up previously mentioned options

Changing the culture can only be done through habituation and making something an everyday routine. At the same time, it happens when employees realize that the issue will not "go away again". In the case of managers, companies should also use the peer effect, which works well either through role models or (healthy) competition.

The level of structure 

As mentioned above, this level is at the same time prerequisite and outcome. It is embedded in the environment, which is self-evident on the other two levels. At the same time, the structures determine corporate culture and makes the company attractive for certain people and unattractive for others. Instruments and measures for achieving equal opportunities include, for example:

• Flexible working time and space

• Target agreements with quantitative and qualitative indicators

• Gender-oriented job descriptions and job advertisements

• Structured and transparent recruitment and promotion practices

• Life-phase oriented employee development


Here we also notice the interdependency with the other two levels: at the cultural level, for example, sabbaticals or parental leave must be seen as valuable opportunities for acquiring extra-occupational skills that are useful for professional work (such as organizational talent, patience, curiosity, dealing with the unusual, getting involved in new things etc.). As a result, sabbaticals and child-raising periods are then promoted structurally, included as a performance characteristic when analyzing an employee's job potential, queried during job interviews and integrated into life-phase oriented employee development. At the same time, employees and managers must also be convinced of the positive effects so that, on the one hand, they accept and approve the offers of sabbaticals. On the other hand, this is also necessary to ensure future employees are asked about these types of development phases during, for example, job interviews – and that the aspect it not simply ignored.

The level of content 

I have neglected this level so far because it often does not play such a major role in companies. In contrast, this level is more relevant, for example, in the education and social sectors. Here we are concerned with offers for the various target groups (in the education sector) or the consideration of gender in the social sector (such as gender-oriented nursery work or intercultural care).

The question of target groups and gender aspects in professional work naturally also concerns companies. In most companies, however, only few people have a real influence on products, which is why it may be sufficient, for example, to include the target groups in (external) communication.

Conclusion 

Over the past years this model of "organizations" has helped me considerably with facilitating change towards equal opportunities. It allows an understanding of relations and interdependencies and serves as basis for developing and implementing structured activities and measures.

However, there is no magic formula: every company is different. Employees are different, cultures are specific, industries are diverse and (the most urgent) needs vary. Consequently, these must be taken into consideration and instruments and concepts need to be adapted accordingly. An energy supply company certainly has a different organizational culture with its tasks and employees compared to a social economy organization. However regardless of the differences, there are common principles that help to implement equal opportunities in the work place.

In addition, every organizational development project is a dynamic process. The truly relevant levels, the activities that promise the greatest possible success or the "biggest failures" may only become apparent over time and during the course of the project.

My own experience taught me a great deal about the ups and downs involved : The pleasures we feel in using creative approaches in the designing the processes, and the frustrations we experience when the organization develops much slower than we previously expected and desired. In my opinion, creating pressure, for example through sanctions, only creates counter-pressure, which in most cases increases behavioural rigidity and more evasive manoeuvres. Every change process also involves resistance, and as this is where the energy is, it is important to work with that energy and not against it.

In addition to the essential and necessary support of management, we might like to look at the workplace as a "work in progress" - A place where diversity is a facilitator of learning and success.

If you would like to find out more about our work, please subscribe to our newsletter. If you would like to contribute to our project as a manager or equal opportunities expert, we would be pleased to hear from you via email.

This post was first published on Genderworks.

by Gabriele Schambach

Ten years have already passed since our last scientific networking meeting of diversity researchers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland took place at the University of St. Gallen. This time, it was held on the 26^th and the 27^th of August 2019. (Link Tagungsbericht)

In eight sessions, 26 contributions from research and practice were presented and used as a starting point to discuss how diversity and inclusion can be (better) implemented in companies and organizations. The contributions dealt with questions of how diversity and inclusion can be anchored conceptually and theoretically, as well as questions about change, learning, contradictions and exclusions. Furthermore, the latest empirical results from organizations, administration, universities and non-profit organizations were unveiled. Over and above geographical and content boundaries, the focus was again on how we can facilitate more diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The diverse nature of contributions showed the many different contexts diversity and inclusion are addressed and dealt with. The wealth of information stimulated reflection as well as lively discussions about the contributions during session breaks.

Three fantastic keynotes were the anchor points of the conference: Prof. Maddie Janssen from the University of Leuven in Belgium offered a review of the development of diversity research and presented a truly exciting dance project. Her intervention represented a potential opportunity for further sustainable research in the field. No less inspiring, and particularly exciting for our project, Prof. Elisabeth Kelan from the University of Essex in the UK presented her research and illustrated how (male) managers can promote equal opportunities (we will give you more details in a separate post!).
Serving as a transition from the academic conference to the practitioner-oriented 3rd Gallen Diversity and Inclusion Conference on 29 August 2019, PD Dr. Thomas Köllen from the University of Bern presented his research findings on LGBT* in organizational and management research.

Titled "Inclusion means cultural change - or what male executives can do for the advancement of women in the company", Prof. Dr. Julia Nentwich and I submitted a paper from our project "Leaders for Equality - equality needs men" (see presentation slides).

For our presentation, we started by giving an overview of the status quo of international research on the topic of men, male executives and gender equality in organizations. While there have been several interesting projects and some advancements have been made, research is unfortunately currently scarce on this topic. On the one hand, this is regrettable because we would like to build on existing work in our project. On the other hand, it makes clear how urgently our research contribution on the role of male executives is needed if diversity and inclusion in companies are to prosper.

For the second part of our presentation, we presented our professional experiences on the topic of gender equality in the workplace concentrating on male managers. This way, we were able to show that some of the practical examples are more far-reaching than current research. For us, this is also the confirmation that our project will create a close link between academic and business practice.
In the coming months, we will now gradually fill the gaps in research and link them to activities in our project companies. We will also present our findings at next year's specialist and networking conference for diversity researchers in German-speaking countries at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (see here).

If you would like to find out more about our work, please subscribe to our newsletter. If you would like to contribute to our project as a manager or equal opportunities expert, we would be pleased to hear from you via email.

by Gabriele Schambach

Diversity is a women's topic.

Women are still (strongly) underrepresented in the top management echelons of Swiss companies. Women earn less than men and their skills and potential as managers and experts are still underestimated. As mothers, they take care of most of the so-called care work, i.e. the everyday caring for children and relatives as well as managing the household yet this work is underappreciated. Their professional biographies are therefore incomplete due to family responsibilities they shoulder. Their career prospects are limited by part-time work and pensions are correspondingly low. Women are regarded as emotional, conflict-shy, bitchy, family-oriented - all the characteristics that are not particularly appreciated in professional life in the workplace.

Companies react – if at all - with individual measures for further qualification and empowerment of women. They sometimes offer solutions to help balance career and family, with mentoring and seminar programs, or with helping develop womens' networks. These are indisputably meaningful activities - but the assumption that it is up to women alone to change the situation is not enough. The reason being is that these activities are usually designed to change women and make them conform with the specific company culture, which could be seen as an apptempt at "Fixing the Women". The problem with these individual measures is that necessary systemic changes in corporate structures and cultures are not taken into account.

Likewise, male colleagues, superiors and employees are not taken into account - and thus the potential they offer for equality is not exploited. In order to initiate the necessary cultural change in regards to gender equality, it is absolutely necessary to include all employees in the company, especially the – predominantly male managers. They represent a resource for equality that, to date, has been used under exploited and which also represents – quantitatively and qualitatively – an influential stakeholder group. Only together, it is possible to implement adequate measures and achieve equal opportunities.

But why should men support gender equality? After all, they no longer would have the same career opportunities if there are to be more women in management positions!

There are (at least) two answers to this question:

1. Men also benefit from gender equality.

So far they have worked long hours in the office and bear the largest burden in generating family income. This responsibility, as well as the culture of competition and dominance that often exists in male-dominated companies, is unhealthy for men. Traditional masculine norms are based on the role of "tough guys", who feed the family and have a successful career. Variation and diversity exist in the form of sabbaticals, family time, part-time work, being a houseman for example, but mostly the above listed male "types" are still all too often the exotic exception by no means the norm. 
Many fathers would also like to have more time for their family. Both fathers and mothers want to be there for their children after starting a family. A more reliable professional development of women would enable men to live a more relaxed and psychologically sustainable life and at the same time help reduce their wives' overall workload. If corporate cultures and structures change and evolve towards more equality, this opens up a vast range of opportunities for men and their lives which are not restricted to confirming to stereotypes.

2. Promoting equal opportunities is a task for (male) managers.

Implementing equal opportunities in day-to-day business is a question of fairness and justice. It has also been known for some time that equality, equal opportunities and diversity are by no means harmful for companies - on the contrary, they contribute significantly to their economic success. If something is to change here in the coming years, men are to be newly appreciated in their function as managers and as designers of change. It is in this function, that we should urgently help them to assume this responsibility!

Of course, promoting equal opportunities does not only require men. It also requires women because we believe that equality and change can more successfully be achieved by managers, we have named our project "Leaders for Equality – managers taking opportunities”.

If you want to learn more about our work, please subscribe to our newsletter. If you would like to contribute to our project as a manager or diversity & inclusion expert, we would be delighted to hear from you via email.