Raising girls to be future leaders
- Published on 7 Aug 2013
- HR Pulse News Desk
Despite a strong focus on female empowerment, in the corporate sector women do not enjoy equal representation with men. Kay Vittee, CEO of Quest Staffing Solutions, tells us more.
The empowerment of women is not something we can only tackle in business as we need to see a more rapid change in society at large. For this to occur, empowerment needs to start at home with parents instilling values in their daughters. This will prepare them for the future.
Stop the stereotypes
Little girls may like dolls and little boys may like sport, but that does not mean they can only play with children of the same gender or stick to playing gender-stereotyped games. If you ensure that your daughter interacts with boys, she will grow up to be at ease in a male-dominated environment. And playing ‘rough’ with the boys will help her to develop a thick skin which will stand her in good stead in the business world.
Women can have anything they set their minds to
When the older generations were growing up, they were told that women could only have certain types of careers, if any at all. However, today our daughters have an endless array of options. By telling your daughter that she can be anything she wants, be it the president or a sportswoman, you will instil in her the confidence to go after her dreams and she will never doubt her ability to achieve.
Encourage your children to be curious
You need passion and drive to do well in your career so when your daughter starts to show an interest in something, encourage her to satisfy her curiosity and give her the tools to explore her interest without restricting her to so-called gender-appropriate things. Although this particular passion may not last very long, the exploration will certainly teach her new skills and will also make her accustomed to breaking new ground.
Foster competitiveness and teamwork in your daughters
Collaboration is essential in the workplace as is the drive to shine as the leader. Team sports or other activities can teach your daughter not only to work well with others but it will also develop her competitiveness to rise above her peers. Mixed-gender activities will especially teach her to emerge as a leader - whether it is men or women that she must lead.
Let her become an independent woman
Independence is gained through self-confidence, which not only comes from praise but also from learning to do a job well. As parents, we naturally want to solve our children’s problems for them, but by taking on a guiding role and giving your daughter the chance to face challenges and come up with her own solutions, you will develop her confidence. It may start out with a small task like tying her shoelaces but as she gets older and the challenges more intense, her sense of independence will ensure she is well equipped to show those around her that she is capable of tackling the job at hand.
Ensure your daughter knows who she is
Allow her to develop her own set of values. With a strong sense of identity in place and no matter the environment she faces, she will be able to know, with conviction, what she has to offer the world and will not easily be brought down by those around her.
Preparing our children for the unknown future is difficult, but if we instil in our daughters the skills and understanding that will lead them to become strong women they will be empowered to take any challenge in their stride.
