In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaders—from CEOs to new managers—have recognized that work has changed in profound ways, and it’s never going back to the way it was. Uncertainty and fear are rampant. Social inequalities are magnified. Empathy and trust have become critical as physical distancing makes connecting across differences particularly challenging. And companies around the world have been forced into an unplanned experiment with remote and flexible working.
This disruption is unprecedented and shocking. But it also is an opportunity for corporate leaders to assess what they value, how they lead, and how their teams work together. If we take this time to proactively reimagine our future, we can shed old priorities, choices, habits, and exclusionary behaviors and clear the slate for new, better ones that benefit business and people. We can design a more equitable, inclusive, and fulfilling workplace in which people can belong, contribute, and thrive.
Catalyst has a map to this new path, and its guiding light is inclusion. Drawing upon research and our expertise in creating workplaces that work for women, we chart our course around five strategies that will turbocharge the journey to a more inclusive future of work.
- Lead Inclusively Through Crisis
Successful leadership during times of extreme uncertainty and ambiguity requires a foundation of inclusion built with vision, courage, clear communication, diversity, equity, transparency, and resilience. - Tackle Inequities
Broad and entrenched social inequities have been exacerbated and magnified; companies that diminish these divisions in their workplaces position themselves for greater success. - Connect With Empathy
Empathy is a skill that helps bond colleagues together and sets the foundation for an integrated and inclusive workplace. - Trust Your Team
Trust—involving team members as decision-makers and contributors—is a key element of inclusion and a catalyst for team empowerment. - Work Remotely and Flexibly
With more disruptions inevitable, learning how to work remotely and flexibly is a business-continuity necessity and inclusion accelerator.
How to cite this product: Catalyst, Covid-19: Women, Equity, and Inclusion in the Future of Work (May 28, 2020).