How To Help API Employees Advance Into Leadership Roles

April 3, 2024

Asians and Pacific Islanders are well-represented in U.S. corporations overall, but not in leadership positions.


The theme for API Heritage Month this year is “advancing leaders through opportunity.”


For Asian and Pacific Islander workers, heavy representation in the corporate workforce hasn’t translated into higher numbers of API corporate leaders. McKinsey found API representation drops substantially the higher you rise in a company, with women experiencing the greatest decrease. 


Here’s what companies can do to help API workers advance into leadership roles:


1. Increase representation

In a recent study by Momentive and AAPI Data, only 26% of Asian and Pacific Islander employees surveyed strongly agreed that “there are others like me in leadership positions at my workplace.” Only 26% strongly agreed they “have support to take on leadership opportunities at work.” For workers overall, including Black, Hispanic, and white employees, 41% said they had others “like me” in leadership positions and 43% reported having the support to take leadership roles.


When asked if they want to be “considered a leader at work,” only 29% of Asian and Pacific Islander employees strongly agree — not surprising, when you consider the lack of support for taking on leadership roles.


This gap in experience is especially pronounced for East and Southeast Asian employees. When McKinsey asked whether their company provides all employees with the mentorship and coaching they need to be successful, only 27% of East Asian employees and 32% of Southeast Asian employees agreed, compared to 44% for white employees.


Creating a culture of equity starts with support from the very top.


First, management must acknowledge the lack of representation for Asian and Pacific Islanders in leadership roles and have the courageous curiosity to delve into dismantling commonly held assumptions, such as the model minority myth. API employees themselves have diverse cultural, historical, and lived experiences, so leaders must commit to listening, and use both employee survey data and employee resource groups (or similar groups) to understand the individual needs of API employees.


Revolutionizing Employee Retention Report


Employees at Robert Half International created five employee network groups, including APEX (Asian Professionals for Excellence), and since their inception, more than 50% of their over 6,000 U.S. employees have participated in events sponsored by these groups.


“We’re providing guidance and expertise toward professional development, leadership, and innovation — and ultimately diversifying our pipeline of talent,” says Katherine Spencer Lee, chief administrative officer at Robert Half. “As a company, we’re committed to helping these organizations continue to thrive, and we encourage teams to get involved as a way to connect with the community and expand their networks.”


Merck’s API resource group — the Asia Pacific Association (APA) — actively promotes mentoring for its members, 50% of whom are women. Part of Merck’s efforts focus on connecting the next generation of API leaders with senior staff who also identify as API.


Being able to connect with leaders who share their background is highly valued by participants. One Merck employee and APA member shares:


“I think it’s great an API-specific mentoring program exists — getting direct, applicable guidance from Asian leaders at all levels from the organization helps everyone involved. My fear with general mentorship is the challenges that Asian employees face may not be faced by those from other backgrounds and may cause a disconnect.”


2. Push for fair pay and promotions

For workers at the typical U.S. workplace, API women are less likely to feel that pay and promotions are fair. On average, API women still only earn 80 cents for every dollar that white, non-Hispanic men make, with larger pay gaps for specific ethnic API subgroups.


In a market study of part- and full-time employees from July of 2022, only 46% of Asian and Pacific Islander women said promotions practices were fair and 50% reported fair pay. 


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In a study by Harvard Business Review and UKG, only 51% of employers surveyed stated that they have pay equity programs in place. The study also found differences in perception of fair pay, with API women experiencing the greatest gap: 40% of white male employees believe their organizations have succeeded in achieving pay equity for all employee groups, while only 25% of white women, 23% of Black or African American women, and 16% of API women agree.


Employers can make a big difference.


At great workplaces, API women are having a much-improved experience, with a 58% increase in API women reporting fair pay and a 93% increase in reporting their job has meaning, according to a survey of 1 million employees.


What accounts for the stark difference between a typical workplace and a great workplace?


Great workplaces communicate the full value of their compensation, support managers in being a part of pay policy rollouts, work to build pay transparency across their organizations, and connect employees’ work to purpose and a company mission.


3. Focus on well-being

Managers must learn about the specific challenges that API employees navigate outside the workplace.


As owner of Sweet Mango Therapy Group, Christine R. Melendres, LCSW, specializes in supporting high-achieving young professional API women who struggle with anxiety to find clarity and reclaim self-worth.


“Asian and Pacific Islander communities have suffered great distress,” Melendres says. “They have been a target of a rise in racism and discrimination since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of overt racism and microaggressions, these incidents have had a notable effect on the Asian and Pacific Islander community’s mental health.”


One of the factors harming the well-being of API employees is a missing sense of belonging — and not just at work.


Four in five Asian and Pacific Islanders “don’t feel they truly belong in the United States” per a national survey of more than 5,000 U.S. residents. This insecurity has been underscored by violent mass shootings, such as the attack during the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, California.


“Belonging in the workplace is an employee’s sense that their uniqueness is accepted and even treasured by their organization and colleagues,” says Tony Bond, chief diversity and innovation officer at Great Place To Work®. “Belonging is an accumulation of day-to-day experiences that enables a person to feel safe and bring their full, unique self to work.”


Identity and background are essential context for understanding the barriers employees face in the workplace.


Research from Great Place To Work found that young API mothers are 33% more susceptible to experiencing burnout compared to their white, male colleagues. The gap increases even further when workers are hourly versus salaried, revealing how different factors can combine to create worse outcomes for employees.


The solution? Be flexible and meet the individual employee where they are.


When managers acknowledge the current and generational trauma API employees and their families experience, they create psychological safety, one of the essential building blocks of trust in the workplace. One example of how to do this is to create culturally relevant spaces within the workplace for sharing stories and experience of API employees.


At Great Place To Work, an employee resource group called APIary offers a safe space for participants to explore and redefine the narratives that shape their experience in the workplace.


“As an executive leader in the business, I know first-hand this is crucial for developing leaders to reach their full potential at Great Place To Work,” says Erika Koh, EVP, global licensing and development and the executive co-sponsor of APIary.


“APIary members were given the autonomy to identify a gap in our current professional development programming and to bring in a licensed psychotherapist with similar lived experiences as an external resource, creating a space that helped the members to recontextualize the generational trauma into resiliency and promoting attention to self-care. The resulting focus on a thriving mindset strengthens them as a community and as individuals within and beyond the workplace.”


Addressing the opportunity gap

Great workplaces ensure that current and prospective employees — not just those within the API community — have full access to the pathways that lead to development, recognition, and promotion. When leaders understand how to support well-being, address the lack of representation in all levels of the organization, and close the API pay gap, API employees will have the conditions necessary to develop into the future leaders every business will need.


Survey your employees

Curious about what your employees need and expect in the workplace? Benchmark your employee experience using Great Place To Work Certification™.


Source:    https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/how-to-help-api-employees-advance-into-leadership-roles

8 lessons you can learn from business leaders

July 1, 2024
Lessons learned in business introduction Whether you’re a junior member of the team or at management level, a continual learning attitude and understating business lessons is key to career success. If you want to fast-track your progress up the career ladder, it’s important to look to your true business leaders and learn from their actions. Not only will this encourage you to carry yourself like a workplace leader, but it will also highlight differences between good and bad management . This is especially important when one wants to see great success in business. Although businesses fail, being equipped with the write business lessons can avoid risk and increase the likelihood of success. Here are eight key biggest lessons to learn from business leaders. 1. How to motivate people Watching your leaders, or considering past experiences with your manager, can give you great insights into the right things to say and do to motivate colleagues or direct reports. You can learn life lessons they've learned in business and understand how to avoid bad habits in the long run to maximize the success for any company. What’s important to remember is that every person is different with different core values and a sense of their own path – and their motivational drivers can change from week to week, depending on workload levels. While one person might benefit from tough love, others may require a gentler approach. Great leaders take the time to get to know their team members’ personalities and motivators, and how they each react to different communication styles. Motivating people is a key skill for any successful business leader to succeed. One of the life lessons we can learn from business leaders is the importance of creating a strong culture that fosters a sense of purpose, passion, belonging, and accountability. By aligning employees' goals and values with the company's mission, leaders can inspire them to take ownership of their work and strive for excellence. In addition, effective leaders recognize the power of recognition and rewards, which can help to incentivize and motivate employees to achieve their goals. By cultivating a culture of positivity and growth, business leaders can build a motivated and engaged workforce that drives innovation and success. Although there are many life lessons learned in business, another important life lesson we can learn from business leaders is the value of stepping out of one's comfort zone to achieve success. Leaders recognize that complacency can be a major obstacle to growth, and they encourage their teams to take risks and embrace change. By fostering a culture of experimentation and learning, business leaders can help their employees overcome fear of failure and develop resilience. This not only motivates employees to push themselves to new heights, but it also enables the organization to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. Thus, business leaders understand that by creating a culture that encourages stepping outside of one's comfort zone, they can create a motivated and dynamic workforce that is poised for success. 2. How to nail your organisational skills Organisational skills are critical for most roles, and it’s important to learn what works for you from the outset so you can be as productive as possible. Business leaders – often the busiest or having the fullest plate compared to most staff members – will have many techniques about how to remain organised. Not all of these will work for you as we all have different styles of working. But having conversations with your manager and other leaders about how they stay organised – on a day-to-day level and when work gets incredibly busy – can quickly teach you about which approaches you’d like to try out and assess if they helped you stick to schedule. RELATED: What are soft skills? 3. How to have difficult conversations Most people don’t enjoy having difficult conversations at work and find the situation awkward. However, these are unavoidable for managers, and it’s crucial to know how to approach these conversations delicately. Good business leaders take a diplomatic approach to difficult conversations and allow the individual to have their say. Talking through problems rather than dictating a change is more productive and will allow you to build better rapport with your team members. 4. How to say ‘no’ tactfully Business leaders often negotiate with partners, clients, and third-party providers – it comes with the territory. At times, this means having to say ‘no’ to requests. Good leaders know how to approach these situations in a way that doesn’t cause upset or worse, ruin relationships. This is especially significant when your a business owner. For instance, rather than saying, “We can’t do this for you”, they might say, “We will review our current workloads and priorities and come back to you next week with a proposal to move this forward”. When it's your own business saying no and managing expectations are important lessons learned and often come naturally as you progress through your own personal development. RELATED: How a leader can gain better engagement with their team 5. How to embrace change Any workplace-related change can be unnerving, particularly when it’s significant. But the responsibility falls on the leader to guide their team through any changes, whilst boosting productivity and ensuring everyone feels comfortable within their role. A great leader will welcome times of change as an opportunity and provide the groundwork for their team members to be creative, innovative and resilient. These are business lessons learned over time. It's also important to stay up to date with business news, customer insights 6. How to accept criticism Criticism can be difficult to hear, even when it is constructive. Business leaders often receive the most criticism at work because they’re ultimately accountable and responsible for the business performance and the performance of their team. But a great leader knows how to accept feedback, learn from their mistakes, and use the experience to their advantage for a successful outcome next time. 7. How to treat people as individuals Individual differences – and therefore experiences and insights – are what drive businesses forward to develop innovative new idea. The most effective workplace leaders embrace, and are highly considerate of, their employees’ unique personalities and working styles. If you can learn how to do this as a manager, you’ll be rewarded with a team that’s motivated, feel comfortable sharing their input, and is committed to success. 8. How to be empathetic Empathy is grounded in understanding rather than judgement, and it’s a trait shared by some of the most successful business leaders. In fact, studies have shown that empathetic leaders are rewarded with higher-performing teams, better quality work output and more loyal team members. Empathy is ultimately the ability to understand others’ emotions, so as you progress in your career and work with all sorts of people, you’ll need to continually develop this important interpersonal skill just like any other skill you learn and get better at on the job. Applying empathy to employees, as well as customers problems will take you far. Source: https://www.pagepersonnel.com.au/advice/career-and-management/career-progression/8-lessons-you-can-learn-from-business-leaders

How to build a professional network for career development

June 26, 2024
The changing job market requires professionals to be adaptable and continuously learn new skills to stay competitive. Networking can help navigate this dynamic landscape by providing access to job opportunities, industry insights, and mentorship. In this article, we cover: What is networking? How to build a professional network How to expand your network reach The art of effective networking Nurture your network for long-term success Where to find people to network with Grow your career with Airswift What is networking? All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust. - Bob Burg Networking is not just a single action but a process involving multiple elements working together. It's not primarily about making sales ; selling may naturally follow from successful networking efforts. When you network, you're part of a larger team where everyone plays a valuable role. Your network comprises the people you've connected with through work and personal interactions. Building strong relationships is at the core of networking because these connections often lead to valuable referrals. Behind every referral is someone who vouches for your credibility, building trust in your abilities. Professional networking goes beyond collecting business cards; it fosters genuine connections and creates a mutually beneficial ecosystem. A strong network is invaluable for established professionals, offering many benefits beyond job hunting, such as access to industry insights, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities. How to build a professional network Identify your goals Defining your career aspirations and areas of interest is crucial to building a robust professional network. You can tailor your networking strategy to align with your career objectives by identifying your goals. For example, if you're interested in shifting industries or pursuing leadership roles , you can focus on connecting with professionals in those fields. This approach ensures that your networking efforts are focused and effective, helping you build a network that supports your career goals. Leverage existing connections Reconnecting with former colleagues, classmates, and professional acquaintances is an excellent way to expand your network. These individuals already know you and your work, making it easier to establish a connection. Additionally, seeking introductions from senior leaders or mentors within your current company can help you connect with influential individuals in your field. These connections can provide valuable insights, mentorship, and opportunities for career advancement. Informational interviews Informational interviews offer a wealth of industry insights and networking opportunities. Start by contacting professionals in your interest and expressing your desire to learn from their experiences. Prepare thoughtful questions to guide the conversation, listen actively, and express gratitude for their time. Keep in touch with interviewees to maintain connections and share updates on your progress. These interviews are valuable resources for exploring career paths and expanding your professional network. Expanding your network reach Participate in industry events Attending conferences, workshops, and industry gatherings relevant to your field can provide high-quality networking opportunities. These events offer a chance to meet like-minded professionals, learn about the latest industry trends, and establish yourself as a thought leader. Focus on events that provide targeted networking opportunities, such as roundtable discussions, workshops, or networking receptions. This approach ensures that your networking efforts are focused and effective, helping you build a network that supports your career goals. Engage with professional organisations Joining industry associations, alumni networks, or leadership councils can help you increase your visibility and connect with like-minded professionals. Participating in committees or volunteering for leadership roles can further enhance your networking efforts. These opportunities allow you to demonstrate your expertise, build your brand, and establish yourself as a leader in your field. Cultivate an online presence Optimising your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords and accomplishments can help you establish a professional image and attract potential connections. Sharing thought leadership content and engaging in industry discussions online can also help you build your brand and establish yourself as an expert. Building a solid online presence can help you expand your network reach, connect with like-minded professionals, and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Second, participation fosters professional growth by granting access to valuable resources and opportunities. Engaging in online communities like industry forums, Slack groups, and niche social media groups can provide access to a pool of individuals with common interests, facilitating meaningful connections. Thirdly, it allows individuals to showcase their expertise, amplify their brand, and expand their horizons by connecting with diverse people. Additionally, active involvement helps individuals stay current with industry trends, fostering personal growth and career advancement. Lastly, online communities enable building lasting relationships and friendships, enhancing networking experiences. The art of effective networking Make meaningful connections Networking has its rules, mainly centred around being a connector. A connector is someone others turn to for help. Networking isn't about you but the value your connections can offer. Focusing on helping others deepens relationships and creates goodwill. Networking is about who your connections know and the potential value they bring. Keep in mind that different industries have different norms. Observing interactions at events can help tailor your approach. Being too aggressive can deter people, so adapt your tone to suit the industry's nature. Research individuals beforehand and find common ground for conversation. Focus on building genuine relationships and offering value to your connections. By prioritising quality over quantity, you can create a network that supports your career goals and offers long-term benefits. Be a master communicator Honing your elevator pitch to articulate your career goals and expertise succinctly is essential for effective networking. Practice active listening and ask insightful questions to demonstrate a genuine interest in your connections. By being a master communicator, you can establish a solid first impression, build rapport, and establish a connection that supports your career goals . Here are ten questions you could ask that demonstrate genuine interest and curiosity and get a conversation started and going: What got you interested in your line of work? Could you tell me about a moment in your career that stood out? What's the best part of what you do? How do you see our industry changing soon? Have you ever faced a tough challenge at work that you overcame? Any good reads or resources that have inspired your approach to your job? If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting in our field, what would it be? Is anything exciting happening in your projects lately? How do you balance your job and personal life? What networking tips do you swear by for making meaningful connections? Body language is universal Body language is aessential aspect to effective communication during networking events. Positive body language can convey confidence, engagement, and interest. It can also help establish a connection with the other person, making the conversation more enjoyable and productive. On the other hand, negative body language can convey disinterest, discomfort, or lack of confidence. Here are 10 steps to being aware of your body language and consciously displaying positive body language during networking events: Maintain eye contact with the person you're speaking to. This shows attentiveness and confidence. Wear a genuine smile to convey warmth and approachability. It helps in creating a positive atmosphere during conversations. Use non-verbal cues such as nodding to show you're actively listening and engaged. It encourages others to continue sharing. Keep your body language open by avoiding crossing your arms, which can signal defensiveness or disinterest. Minimise fidgeting or restless movements. This conveys nervousness or lack of confidence. Instead, try to maintain a relaxed posture. Subtly mirror the body language of the person you speak to to establish rapport and build a connection. Respect personal space boundaries and avoid standing too close, as it can make others uncomfortable. Use appropriate hand gestures to emphasise points or express enthusiasm, but avoid excessive or distracting movements. Before attending networking events, practice your body language to become more aware of your non-verbal cues. Ask for feedback from trusted individuals on your body language to identify areas for improvement. Approach people Networking can be daunting, but the right approach is a valuable tool for building meaningful connections and advancing professionally. Here are actionable steps to help overcome fears, focus on helping others, and cultivate authentic interactions, ensuring that each conversation is a mutually beneficial exchange: Acknowledge any fear of talking to new people, but don't let it control you. Remember that each conversation is an opportunity to help someone in ways they may not even realise they need. Approach conversations with courage, focusing on how you can assist the other person rather than your fears or desires. Avoid desperation by genuinely focusing on the needs of others. This will shift the conversation away from what you can gain and how you can contribute. Engage fully in conversations by actively listening, nodding, agreeing, commenting, and asking thoughtful questions. This demonstrates your interest and investment in the interaction. Do not dominate conversations with stories about yourself. Instead, maintain a balanced dialogue in which both parties have an opportunity to contribute. Be genuine and authentic in all interactions. Authenticity fosters trust and attracts others to you, leading to meaningful connections. Maintain consistency in your behaviour and interactions. People appreciate knowing what to expect from you, which builds trust and reliability over time. Tell your story Storytelling is a powerful tool in networking. It can help create a personal connection with others, establish credibility, and make a memorable impression. Individuals can showcase their skills, values, and achievements by crafting compelling narratives about their career journey. Here are some actionable steps towards great storytelling with networking in mind: Tailor your story to resonate with your audience's interests, values, and needs. Share genuine experiences and emotions to establish credibility and build trust. Focus on the key aspects of your career journey, highlighting relevant skills, values, and achievements. Use vivid details and compelling anecdotes to make your story memorable and engaging. Rehearse your story to ensure clarity, coherence, and confidence in delivery. After sharing your story, follow up with a clear purpose, whether seeking further discussion, collaboration, or referrals. The power of follow-up A study by LinkedIn found that connecting on LinkedIn and sending personalised follow-up emails within 24-48 hours can help you maintain the momentum of your initial connection. Briefly recap your conversation and offer to connect them with relevant resources. Following up after a networking event is essential for building long-term relationships and establishing yourself as a valuable connection. Nurturing your network for long-term success Become a resource Offer your expertise and knowledge to support your network members. Recommend them for opportunities or make relevant introductions. By becoming a resource for your connections, you can build long-term relationships, establish trust, and establish yourself as a valuable connection. Maintain regular engagement Stay connected by sharing industry updates and congratulating them on their achievements. Schedule periodic coffee chats or virtual meetings to maintain relationships and demonstrate your commitment to building a solid network. By maintaining regular engagement, you can build long-term relationships, establish trust, and establish yourself as a valuable connection. Reciprocity is key Networking is a two-way street. Be genuinely helpful and supportive to build trust and long-term connections. By practising reciprocity, you can establish a mutually beneficial relationship that supports your career goals and offers long-term benefits. Competition can be healthy When faced with competition in a networking setting, consider this scenario: You're one of several fishbowl salespeople at an event with 1000 attendees. Being yourself naturally attracts those with whom you share a connection or interest. It's essential to recognise that there's enough opportunity for everyone present. Rather than pursuing every potential lead, focus on those who resonate with you. Look for individuals who could become long-term partners, providing ongoing business beyond just one transaction. Ask yourself: Do I genuinely enjoy this person's company? Could we see ourselves collaborating for years to come? Networking is a marathon, not a sprint. For sustained success, prioritise building relationships based on mutual trust and compatibility. Where to find people to network with Finding people to network with is simpler than you might think – they're everywhere! Here’s how: Begin engaging with those closest to you, such as friends and family. Practice delivering a concise elevator pitch highlighting your interests without dominating the conversation. Instead, focus on learning about others by asking genuine questions and showing interest in their experiences. Use everyday situations, like waiting in line at the bank or chatting with fellow gym-goers, to practice your networking skills. Consider joining community associations, Chambers of Commerce, or trade organisations and attend trade shows to connect with like-minded individuals. Remember to be approachable, friendly, and genuinely interested in others beyond what they can offer you. As you engage with more people, networking becomes more natural and enjoyable. Three questions to ask every person to guarantee a follow-up meeting post-networking Towards the end of a conversation, once you have all the information you can get about someone, ask the following questions: Are you looking for new clients/prospects at this time? What sets you apart from your competition? What does your ideal client look like? If this is the case, let them know you have some people who could use their services or need their help. Ask if they might be interested in getting their details. If it’s a yes, arrange a meeting time and follow through on your promise to help. When you show up for your meeting, pass on that referral or the name of a great contact to them. Doing so creates trust and a relationship, proving that you can and will help when you can. This makes them want to do the same for the other person, and you are now truly part of their network. Grow your career with Airswift 85% of all jobs are filled through networking , highlighting its importance in landing jobs. A strategic professional network is crucial for career advancement, providing access to opportunities, mentorship, and industry insights. However, building and maintaining a solid network can be challenging, with time management and introversion being common obstacles. To overcome these challenges, prioritise networking activities that align with your career goals, leverage existing connections, and allocate time for networking activities.  Whether you're looking to advance your career, explore new opportunities, or stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, Airswift has the expertise and resources to help you succeed. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can support your professional growth. Source: https://www.airswift.com/blog/professional-networking
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