Ho Hum Women s Initiatives

A well-respected, senior-level businessman recently asked me, "What's a women's initiative?" That is a good and honest question! Women's initiatives have been initiating for decades now, so I'm surprised he had to ask; however, this businessman truly didn't know. This lack of understanding is only one of the obstacles companies face when starting an initiative for their women.

Women's initiatives continue to crop up in corporations, professional services firms, non-profit agencies and communities. The intentions are certainly admirable, yet most women's initiatives have the same ho-hum quality.

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1. The (usually white) guys at the top are confused about the purpose of a women's initiative. And, many of the guys are reluctant to speak up honestly.

2. The founders of the initiative don't use the right language to explain their purpose in a way that resonates well with the leaders of the company, which is key because their support will be needed.

3. The human resources department is expected to take a lead role in the execution along with only a small team of very busy people. This is not the strongest position the initiative can assume.

4. Not enough time, resources and attention are provided for strategic communications that properly pitch the initiative and identify benefits to client service, marketing, business development, recruiting and employee retention.

5. The champions of the initiative don't provide a good business case for having the initiative in the first place, which will lead to lack of support down the road.

6. Throwing a big yearly event does not an initiative make.

7. The champions of the initiative (usually women) are not given enough budget or authority to get out of Ho-Hum.

8. There's usually a failure to recognize the ramifications on the initiative from those who will get excluded.

9. The distribution of accountability includes only the HR department and the leaders of the Initiative, yet everyone in the organization should own a slice of the responsibility pie.

This is not a message to avoid forming women's initiatives. Not at all. If a company wants - or needs - to spend the time, resources and money on such an effort, it only makes sense to get the most return on the investment by not making it Ho-Hum.