WANTED: Women on Boards

A new California law requires most companies in the state to have at least one woman on their boards of directors by the end of 2019. By the end of 2021, the bogey is three. If every state were to follow California’s lead, U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 would need to open up 3,732 board seats for women within a few years, increasing the number of women on boards by 75 percent.

Needless to say, this is music to my ears, as diverse ideas, thoughts, experiences and opinions make organizations better – and ‘better’ is something employees desperately need. The new Gallup data is out and only 34 percent of American workers are engaged – a pitiful number, thanks to the fact that most organizations are not on a journey to improve their culture.

Decades ago it did not surprise me that many organizations did not make employee engagement a priority, but today it shocks me. Why? Because it’s an employee’s job market, companies need a differentiator in order to attract and retain talent, and there is no greater differentiator than a great culture.

Employees can get benefits and a paycheck anywhere. But finding a workplace that makes people feel respected, inspired, appreciated, listened to, and valued? That’s priceless and rare. Create this place and you will set yourself apart by setting up your organization for success.

WHAT CAN I DO? Regardless of where you sit in an organization, you can affect change. You don’t have to ‘own’ employee engagement in order for you to make a difference. Anyone can approach a senior leader and remind them that because it’s an employee’s job market, your organization needs a differentiator to attract and retain talent, and there is no greater differentiator than a great culture. If not you, who?