According to the study “Women, we have a problem”, developed by Right Management, women face a triple labour threat: scarce presence in growing industries, jobs under risk due to automation, and low levels of representation in high level positions. 

Every company in the world faces a major challenge due to the emergence of automation and digitalization in technical and management processes. This trend has a direct impact on the people that form every company, regardless whether it is a small, medium or large company.

The study developed by Right Management gathers the opinion of 4,400 employees and managers, including 2,200 women in 15 countries. It states that 42% of women seek to have more conversations with their bosses to learn how to develop their skills, being aware that new technologies in organizations will demand better prepared professionals.

Women are disproportionally affected by the lack of effective career discussions with their direct managers.

This situation damages labour relationships, as women tend to be more effective at networking than men.

The survey also shows that 84% of women have not been able to identify a sponsor at their organization, which is another cause for their lack of progress.

The difference between sponsors and mentors is that the latter are evaluators of ideas and provide feedback; while sponsors develop talent, create a culture of support and aware inclusion, and a work on the promotion of women in the board of directors.

Companies should have answers for the following questions in order to address women’s needs to achieve professional development.

– Who am I? How do I fit in? (Making goals clear) – What is expected of me? (Developing SMART goals)- How will my talent and contributions be acknowledged? (Identifying motivations)- How am I performing? (Detecting strengths and opportunities)- What is next for me? (Setting steps and goals) – What should I develop and how? (Developing individual skills).

If leaders promoted more effective career conversations, 82% of women would be more committed, 78% would share ideas more freely, and 75% would stay with their current employer, concludes the study.