Hear Her Voice

Hear Her Voice

“We believe that by raising awareness and providing practical guidance, we can create a culture that values and respects all voices.” Tracey McEachran

In May 2023 our WISH President, Tracey McEachran, launched her presidential campaign #HearHerVoice. The campaign highlighted the fact that women’s voices are less likely to be heard at conferences and in the workplace and over the last 12 months Tracey has created best practice guides for conference facilitators and event organisers on how to ensure everyone's voice is heard. These guides have been widely shared and positively received, creating a lasting legacy.

Tracey has now launched a guide providing top tips for creating an inclusive workplace environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives.

#HearHerVoice in the Workplace

In today's dynamic and evolving workplace, the importance of hearing women's voices cannot be overstated. Diverse perspectives are essential for fostering innovation, enhancing decision-making, and promoting a culture of inclusivity. When women's voices are heard and valued, it leads to a more balanced and equitable environment where everyone can thrive. Encouraging women's participation and recognising their contributions not only supports their professional growth but also drives organisational success.

In our annual WISH survey, women have told us that their voices are less likely to be heard or responded to than those of their male colleagues. This experience highlights a bigger issue that permeates beyond the conference room. Statistics show that in mixed-gender meetings, women speak less. Here are our top tips for those who are responsible for chairing or leading meetings and group discussions:

1. Articulate Expectations: At the start of the meeting or group discussion, set clear expectations that everyone's input is valued and that the meeting is a safe space for open discussion. Establish ground rules that encourage all voices to be heard and ensure that everyone is treated with respect. Make it clear that interrupting or talking over others will not be tolerated.
2. Encourage Participation: Encourage women to participate by specifically calling on them to share their thoughts and ideas. Ask open-ended questions that allow for multiple perspectives and avoid questions that assume a certain gender has more expertise or knowledge.
3. Monitor Participation: Keep track of who is speaking and how much time each person is taking. If you notice that one gender is dominating the conversation, actively encourage others to speak up by asking specific individuals for their input or posing open-ended questions that encourage group participation.
4. Use Inclusive Language: As a chair or leader, ensure that you use language that is inclusive of all genders and avoid gender stereotypes or assumptions. Create a more welcoming environment for all participants and be prepared to gently challenge any language that is not inclusive.
5. Be Aware of Biases: Be conscious of your own biases and those of others in the group. For example, be aware of the tendency to interrupt or talk over women, or to assume that men are more authoritative or knowledgeable on certain topics. When you notice biases in action, call attention to them and encourage the group to examine them together.
6. Provide Opportunities for Reflection: Allow time for participants to reflect on their thoughts before being asked to speak. This can be done by providing prompts or questions ahead of time, or by allowing a few minutes of silent reflection before asking for input.
7. Create Smaller Discussion Groups: Break larger groups into smaller discussion groups where participants may feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. Encourage participation in these smaller groups and ensure that all voices are heard.
8. Address Barriers: Address any barriers that may be preventing women from participating, such as language barriers, cultural differences, or technological issues. Provide resources or support as needed to help overcome these barriers.
9. Consider Diversity: Be conscious of the diversity of perspectives and experiences within the group, including differences in gender, race, ethnicity, and other factors. Seek out and value diverse perspectives and be aware of how different individuals may experience the meeting environment differently.

If you read through this list and think that you just don’t have time in your meetings to ensure everyone’s voice is heard, consider your agenda. Have you structured it to ensure each person has a say? If you have put too much on the agenda, chances are you will just rush through it, and quieter voices won’t speak.

Some considerations when you plan your meeting:

• Does everything need to be on the agenda?
• Does everyone need to be at the meeting for the whole duration?
• Have you designated items for approval, discussion, and creative thinking?

If you don’t have time to hear everyone’s voice, then you may be prioritising what you see as efficiency over effectiveness. In the long run, this is inefficient because you may not be getting the best outcomes from your meetings. #HearHerVoice.