Empowering Women in the Workplace: Strategies for Success

Posted on 18 May, 2023 by Marie Lafortune

In today's rapidly evolving professional landscape, empowering women in the workplace has become an essential aspect of creating a diverse and inclusive environment. As a woman who has had the privilege of working in various institutions with women from different backgrounds, I have come to appreciate them for who they were while working toward the power of solidarity and support among us. In this personal blog post, I want to share my experience and highlight the strategies I employed to empower females that I have considered to be my friends now; through fostering a culture of mutual assistance, promoting personal growth, and embracing the strength of collective effort, so you can also learn about them.

Creating a Culture of Support:

There was an established culture of support among my female colleagues during my employment at the International Organization, where I had the opportunity to spend 7 years learning. I've worked with people who had years of expertise doing what I was doing. Which was completely new to me, but I've never felt ridiculed or downsized because of my newness. I've discovered that culture, which I've grown to appreciate through the years, and worked to reinforce it through words and actions with new colleagues.

Cultivating that environment made a significant difference in our lives as workers who were basically doing an extremely stressful job and also kept us together all along.

We uplifted and championed each other; we created a strong network of support that enabled us to overcome obstacles and achieve success. We developed a community that thrived on mutual empowerment, whether it was extending a helping hand through difficult projects, providing advice and covering one another's backs, or simply lending an empathic ear. Our network was fantastic, and we didn't realize it until one of us moved to a different country to experience life overseas. I recall one of our coworkers having to relocate to another country and begin a new life and career. She stated, "It's so different." In addition to our workday job, we occasionally get together for special occasions such as birthdays, ceremonies, errands, and so on. We were not only professional colleagues, but also friends who supported each other in all aspects of our lives. 

Encouraging Professional Development:

Empowering women in the workplace goes beyond daily interactions; it involves actively promoting professional development. I recognized the value of investing in my colleagues' growth and encouraged them to pursue training programs, attend conferences, and seek out additional responsibilities. By supporting their ambitions and advocating for their advancement, I witnessed firsthand how these opportunities allowed them to showcase their talents and unlock their full potential. If one of my female colleagues comes to me and talks to me about a potential promotion, my first word is always “Go For It”. My coworkers usually see me instantly as a friend because I don't judge, I can only support. One of my recent coworkers told me that she enjoys my "energy" and that she feels like she can befriend and trust me over time. It will obviously take time, but there is nothing wrong with pushing someone to pursue their dreams and passions in order to reach their full potential. DO IT!

Embracing Collective Effort:

In my experience, collaboration and unity among women have been crucial in fostering empowerment in the workplace. By working together as a team, we amplify our impact and achieve remarkable results. Whenever a colleague faced adversity or had personal commitments, we stepped in to support and uplift one another. Covering each other's mistakes, providing backup support, and helping with workload distribution created an atmosphere of trust and collaboration, empowering everyone to thrive.

Recognizing and Celebrating Achievements:

You will realize by now that I emphasize “celebrating women” a lot.” Are you asking yourself why?

If you know the power of words and the power of positive talking, you’ll understand why. Positive talk makes such a huge difference in everybody’s life. It can raise their self-esteem and help them become more confident. So when we acknowledge the accomplishments of our female colleagues, we play a pivotal role in empowering them. In team meetings or during one-on-one conversations, I made it a point to highlight their achievements, emphasizing their contributions to the organization, a report, or just a simple situation that could make a huge and important difference. By creating a culture that celebrated each other's successes, we fostered a sense of pride and motivation, encouraging women to reach even greater heights.

Empowering women in the workplace is not just a personal commitment but a collective responsibility. Through my experiences, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of solidarity, support, and collaboration among women. By creating a culture of support, encouraging professional development, embracing collective effort, and recognizing achievements, we can build an empowering workplace where women can thrive. Let us continue to uplift and empower one another, paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive professional world.