Dive Brief:
- When it comes to driving business, the genders score pretty much the same ability-wise. But women still have more trouble breaking out of lower-level leadership jobs, according to Fast Company.
- Fast Company cites a new study from Development Dimensions International (DDI), which is a "synthesis of assessments" from 15,000 people under consideration for leadership jobs (front lines to executive) at 300 employers in 18 countries. Equity of scores notwithstanding, DDI’s report and other similar research says gender equality in leadership remains far from equal.
- DDI's findings, Fast Company says, show that the male participants had the advantage because they were selected for assessment at a higher ratio in the first place. Because these assessments "represent investment" by employers, DDI says they reliably demonstrate the lack of gender diversity among high-potential leaders.
Dive Insight:
The DDI study authors wrote that because far more women are chosen as candidates for assessment at lower leader levels than at senior levels sends a clear message to women: Being a lower-level leader is fine, but "you’re not yet ready to rise to the top."
Fast Company also cited a recent McKinsey/LeanIn.org study that found when it comes to advancement - entry level all the way to executive rank - women are less likely to move up. For example, the widest gap was between manager to director, where women are only 79% as likely to reach that level, compared to 100% of men.
"It's not because women are not smart and not willing to work hard — it's that the pipeline doesn't exist," Priti Shah, the vice president of leadership product strategy and corporate development for Skillsoft, told HR Dive in October. "Until boardrooms make the pipeline a priority for mixed genders, you are going to continue to see this."
