Five things you can do to be a better workplace ally for other women

Having allies at work is powerful. Our voices get amplified, our ideas get the credit they deserve and our confidence gets strengthened.
Two groups of women got together on a warm Saturday afternoon across the city and discussed ways in which we can support each other at work. The conversation topic was “Being Better Workplace Allies” under the broader theme of #SheForShe
Here’s what we heard from the group and we thought we’ll make this a concise list of five things each one of us can do at work (or otherwise):
· Build an ally network: Sometimes women have their unique set of challenges which are very different from men (e.g. women returning from a maternity break) so it is very helpful to build a network or create a safe space where women help each other. Two of our participants from Google and American Express respectively said this greatly helps them at work
· Identify a “Brag Buddy” or a cheerleader: Find someone (male or female) who will be your “brag buddy” — who will amplify your ideas, your voice at team meetings so you get credit where it is due. Remember, this works only if the quality of your work is stellar to begin with
· Always do the right thing: There could be instances of casual sexism which could hurt people in the group but be sure to do your part by calling it out. If you fear being the “bad cop”, use a different tactic like a slightly better tone or sometimes you could even infuse humor while calling such behaviors out. Remember, not all things are in your control but it’s always better to “control the controllable” by doing the right thing
· Faith it till you make it: A better take on “fake it till you make it”, keep the faith in yourself and in your allies. A lot of times, you’ll find that while your situation is unique, someone else may have already navigated through a similar problem so all it takes is to find that person and keep the faith!
· Pay it forward: As young professionals, all of us have had great mentors, colleagues, buddies who have helped us get past some of these situations so always remember to pay it forward to other younger women. That’s the only way good karma will multiply!
Bonus: We also talked about the following resources in order to continue inspiring our tribe!
· Book: Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Vision and Make Things Happen by Tara Mohr
· Videos: Priyanka Chopra and Indira Nooyi on Breaking Barriers and Engaging Billions and Mindy Kaling’s Dartmouth Commencement Address
Article: Survival Tips for Women in Tech
