Employee voice, or speaking up with information intended to help one’s group, has tons of well-recognized benefits. It can improve performance, help teams come up with creative solutions, and avoid issues that might hold them back. A lot of research suggests that those who speak the most in groups tend to emerge as leaders.
Research: Men Get Credit for Voicing Ideas, but Not Problems. Women Don’t Get Credit for Either
Employee voice, or speaking up with information intended to help one’s group, can improve performance, help teams come up with creative solutions, and avoid issues that might hold them back. But new research finds that speaking up only benefits men, and only when they speak up to offer ideas rather than point out problems. The author found that women were not helped by speaking up, regardless of whether it was about ideas or problems. Managers should make a specific effort to encourage women to speak up, taking care to show female employees that their contributions are valued. The author offers a number of ways to do that, including amplifying women’s ideas, making sure women get credit for their contributions, and making a point to call on female employees to hear their thoughts.