“Everyone has potential, but not everyone reaches theirs.” One of my managers once said this to me. It’s especially true for women, who often have to overcome multiple challenges to achieve career success.
“People will not reach their full potential without somebody else believing in them” (Joel Osteen, 2021). This is also true. Without the support of several wonderful managers who have mentored me over the years, I am sure that my introverted nature would have reinforced the doubts that many women feel when presented with opportunities to step up a level. The thought that “I am not good enough yet”.
Inhibiting factors
There are many factors real and perceived which inhibit women from applying for or attaining senior roles. Over the past 20 years of my career in H&S regulation I have faced many of these challenges. My ability to deal with the “hard stuff” could be under-estimated and overlooked, despite my experience. Well-meaning people would give advice – “Be the first to speak in a meeting”, “Be the loudest person there”, “Be more like [insert name here]” – as if there is only one recipe for an effective senior manager.
Then, if I acted as they suggested, I was labelled “ambitious” (as if that was a bad thing).
I did further tertiary study, attended leadership courses and embraced a strengths-based approach. I concentrated on building a high performing team and achieving results.
The hardest part was ensuring these results were noticed and for my style and achievements to be valued rather than overlooked. In other words, managing up.
Having the confidence of my team and a manager who believed in me and who not only advised me, but actively advocated for me, was very empowering.
First managerial role
New Zealand leads internationally in terms of gender representation, with women making up about half of our H&S workforce. But they are largely at the bottom of the workforce pyramid.
Why are more women not represented at senior management level? Roya Gorjifard (2021) found in her research on ‘Female Health and Safety Professionals’ that men in HSE roles are nearly 40% more likely to be promoted than women. She found the biggest challenge for women was the step up to their first managerial role.
If we want more women in senior leadership and governance roles, we need to increase our pool of women at all levels, especially at mid-level management.
Getting support
To expand your influence and step up a level, find a mentor or group of supportive women. Joining Women in Safety Excellence NZ would be an excellent start. WISE is a special interest group within NZISM which works to create a space to empower women in the H&S profession.
With membership of more than 750 women, many in H&S leadership or governance roles, members have access to opportunities for personal development through collaborative events, research, scholarship and training initiatives as well as mentoring – all aimed to help you grow your potential as a leader.
Coach and mentor
If you are in a senior role already (any gender), be a coach and mentor to women. Work with them to support their potential so that when a suitable job comes up they feel they are ready. Challenge your own biases and reflect on the behaviours and traits your recruitment process, induction programmes and workplace culture is valuing and rewarding. If there isn’t one already, create sharing opportunities in your workplace by starting a women’s network.
Consider committing to the UN-sponsored Women’s Empowerment Principles in your business. These set out seven key elements integral to promoting gender equality in the workplace and provide practical examples to help make it a reality.
Stepping up at each level is hard but brings incredible rewards. Next time, apply for that role, even if you don’t think you are ready. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from the experience.
For New Zealand’s H&S performance to improve we need you to achieve your potential.
Jo Pugh headed the General Inspectorate at Worksafe NZ from 2016. Two years ago she joined the Ministry of Health to assist with the fight against COVID-19 and has continued to work for the National Public Health Service. Jo is a member of the Governance committee of WISE (Women in Safety Excellence NZ).
