Women’s Leadership and Diversity Programs
Components for Success
By Terri Herren
The five components necessary for success of a women’s leadership or diversity program are represented on the diagram which follows. At the top of the diagram is Business Case, outlining the reasons change is important for the future of the company and its people. Tying the business case to company vision and values creates the focus for education and communication of the new initiative.
Unless the business case is first understood and supported by the company’s top leaders and then other team members, the program will be short-lived and viewed only as window dressing. Ideally, the CEO should be the champion of the initiative because others look to this leader to articulate and clarify company vision.
At the center of the diagram is Accountable Committee which is comprised of team members empowered by company leadership to take appropriate action to produce results in support of the business case. Committee members should be comprised of team members representing inclusion and have the respect of their peers. Members, particularly the chair, must be willing and able to devote time required to deliver results. An outside consultant experienced in directing similar programs adds value by advising the committee of best practices, dealing with obstacles, and gauging/encouraging progress.
A mission statement in support of the business case becomes the basis of the committee’s Action Plan. The action plan defines key activities and deliverables required to implement the mission and includes timing and responsibility of individuals. The action plan serves as the roadmap of accountability for the committee and chair to follow/monitor on an on-going basis.
Open Dialog is two-fold. First, communication is important to keep the initiative alive by informing team members of what’s going on. This requires utilizing appropriate methods and media for on-going communication. Secondly, open dialog must be occurring in committee meetings and with company leadership. Discussing differences creates understanding which leads to valuing their importance to the company.
The importance of Marketing, particularly internal marketing, should not be underestimated. Its purpose is to promote awareness and progress being made on issues important to stakeholders. Marketing further validates the company’s commitment to the diversity or women’s leadership program, internally and externally. The end result is the company becomes what its people and communities believe it is. It is the brand of a successful program.
Components for Program Success
