DYS531 - Power and Gender Dynamics

Course Description

Research demonstrates that gender diversity helps an organization's bottom line. There's a strong business case to be made for inclusivity in the workplace and at all levels of leadership. At the same time, research also tells us that both women and men equate being a leader with being a male. In other words, leadership itself is equated with masculinity and what we are socialized to understand are the behaviors and gender roles of cis-gender men. How does that affect women's ability to advance to the highest levels of leadership and to C-Suite positions? And how does it prevent organizations from harnessing all the talent that's available?

This course, designed specifically for women in leadership positions, was created by Deborah Streeter, the Bruce F. Failing, Sr., Professor of Personal Enterprise at Cornell, and Susan S. Fleming, a Senior Lecturer at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

It considers power and gender dynamics from two perspectives: that of an individual hoping to advance personally, and that of a leader hoping to foster a more inclusive work environment to benefit others as well as the organization. In this course, you will identify how power is accrued within organizations, and you'll look at the sources from which you derive your power. You will examine some ways to increase status and power. You will look at the strategies leaders can implement to help create social "vaccines" against gender-based stereotypes within a team and organization. You will examine how to cultivate an awareness in yourself about when unconscious bias may be coming into play and look for ways to counteract its effects through organizational policy.

Faculty Author

Benefits to the Learner

• Assess your organization and yourself as a leader to determine the gender status and power dynamics present
• Implement strategies to influence the workplace culture to be one of greater parity
• Use strategies to bring forward the contributions of both women and men in group settings
• Recognize when gender bias is present so that you can implement strategies to overcome its limiting effects
• Create an action plan to guide your efforts to enhance your own status and power

Target Audience

• Women leaders in mid- to senior-level positions (10+ years of work experience)
• Women who hold or are interested in seeking board positions
• Women entrepreneurs and founders
• Male leaders seeking to better understand gender dynamics in their organizations

Accrediting Associations

• HR Certification Institute (HRCI) General Approval Number 648683 10.0 Hours
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Approval Number 24-7F7S5 10.0 Credits