SMASHING THE GLASS CEILING IN THE WORKSPACE

In the present dynamic professional world, there is a well-known hurdle often referred to as the ‘glass ceiling’. This metaphorical concept has been used for years to explain the invisible but powerful barriers that prevent women and other marginalized groups from moving up the professional ladder. Despite recent strides, the glass ceiling remains a tough nut to crack on the path to genuine workplace equality.

The  glass ceiling is a covert yet injurious form of bias, where the opportunities you spot right in front of you remain out of reach, regardless of your qualifications and earnest endeavors. 

A typical example of this in organizations is women not being considered for due promotions, while male colleagues with similar or even fewer qualifications advance in their careers. Cases like this are mostly due to the ingrained and unintentional bias or misperception that women generally find it harder to manage leadership positions.

While significant strides have been made to shatter this barrier, it continues to cast a shadow over workplaces worldwide. A shining example of someone who triumphed over the glass ceiling is Elizabeth Blackwell. Against formidable odds, she achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first American woman to earn a medical degree in 1849. 

This groundbreaking achievement revolutionised the field of medicine and made her a trailblazer, inspiring countless women to follow in her footsteps. She even forged ahead and established her own medical school exclusively for women.

These are some steps that organizations and individuals can take to break the glass ceiling.

For organizations,

1. Establish goals for diversity in hiring and promotions: Combating the glass ceiling in the workplace requires setting goals that promote diversity when recruiting and promoting employees to higher-level roles.

2. Introduce training to counter bias and stereotypes: Workplace training to address bias and stereotypes contributes to the fight against the glass ceiling. Organizations can achieve this by organizing internal training or bringing in an expert on diversity and inclusion to start conversations and ensure they’re inclusive and productive.

For Individuals:

1. Break Stereotypes: Take the bull by the horns when it comes to challenging and debunking stereotypes tied to your gender, race, or other aspects of your identity. Show unequivocally that you possess the skills and potential needed to step into leadership roles.

2. Set SMART goals as a professional: Once you’ve cracked the code on what a glass ceiling is, you can start shooting for the stars by setting SMART goals as a professional to propel your career forward. The SMART method enables you to make specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals, which are crucial for effective planning, implementing, and achieving desired outcomes.

3. Network and become an expert: Accessibility to high-level opportunities is made easier by networking. Through a strong professional network, you gain access to job opportunities, career guidance, industry leaders, and recommendations, all of which can help shatter the glass ceiling.

 It is paramount to note that breaking the glass door ceiling is a gradual process that requires persistence, resilience, and the ability to adapt to challenges.

However, the most compelling aspect of the glass ceiling narrative is the unwavering determination of those who refuse to be held back by it. Thumbs up to organizations that have made concerted efforts to create inclusive environments where the glass ceiling can no longer exist.

At Migasuto Global Services, we’re strong advocates of a level playing field in the workplace, and we frown on any form of gender bias or discrimination. This underscores our unwavering dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

We encourage you to share your insights on how we can help you consistently create content to boost the effectiveness of your DE&I strategies.