Diversity in the workplace has become a common topic in recent times. More and more companies now strive to become more inclusive, modifying their ratio of male to female workers.
The rate at which industries implement these changes varies, with some progressing faster than others.
Today, this article will discuss the importance of women’s presence in the mining industry.
Why Some Diversity Policies Do Not Work
Several mining companies have created diversity policies to inspire change. However, these are insufficient in bringing more women into mining companies. Gender policies are not implemented due to organizational “blind spots.”
Mining companies often set overly ambitious targets to fulfill gender equality goals, which are either too complex or too rigid. They fail to bring more women into mining if they do not have the necessary capabilities to meet these goals. This poses a risk of making women feel undervalued and unworthy due to being often excluded.
To combat this, mining companies need to identify and address these “blind spots.” Ineffective policies need to be designed in a different way to serve their primary purpose, which is to foster a more diverse environment. This will result in a more agile, profitable, and sustainable business.
The Transformational Leadership in Diversity
The mining industry is known for praising the masculine identity. After all, its long history and entire existence are built on hard labor, grit, and perseverance, which is a system we often associate with the masculine identity.
A transformational (or communal) leader is supportive, flexible, empathetic, caring, and nurturing, which are qualities we often attribute to women. This style of leadership has better employee engagement scores than the traditional hierarchical environment. If mining companies continue to adapt this hierarchical, masculine leadership, they will not see any progress.
Female mining CEOs can inspire change in the workforce and lead their companies to adapt to the changes in the industry. If we allow more women to join the leadership, we can see the transformational qualities their style of leadership brings.
The Most Effective Leaders Can Adapt to Change
The mining industry is rapidly changing, and in turn, a paradigm shift is emerging. When mining companies started to integrate technology into their frameworks, it became a positive catalyst for diversity. It slowly started to recognize the need for diversity and inclusivity, a demand that leaders from all backgrounds can fulfill.
More mining companies embrace data, analytics, and connectivity to help them compete with their peers as prices of commodities fluctuate. Today, organizational agility and fast-paced innovation are necessary if you want your mining company to thrive. And this is the reason why diversity and inclusivity are important.
Mining companies that promote and embrace diversity and inclusivity have been proven to outperform their peers. They also tend to be more creative, innovative, and productive. The mining industry needs influential leaders who can quickly adapt to change, and you can find them if you allow women to join the leadership ranks.
Conclusion
The mining industry has a reputation for its rugged, masculine identity, which is why many women feel alienated by the traditional mining leadership. Due to this, mining companies fail to create diverse environments that can help them thrive in the changing marketplace.
In order for companies to thrive, they need to create a more inclusive, diverse environment.
If your mining company is struggling to make sense of this paradigm shift, then you may want to consider working with management experts. Janet Sheriff is an innovative entrepreneur in the mining industry who can assist you in diversifying and growing your mining company. Contact today to get started.
