3 key skills women bring to the tech table
Starting out in computer programming in the 1980s meant having few female peers. When I was offered my first job, I remember feeling grateful a company would want to hire me.
Most of my early career was spent trying to be one of the guys, emulating their styles and putting on a tough exterior. That continued for many years, as there were few, if any, female role models to follow. As I eventually entered into executive roles, the field was still continuing to recognize that the injection of more women in IT roles could bring different, yet equally valuable, skills and approaches to the workplace.
I’m glad that’s changing now.
I recently participated in a panel hosted by Microsoft and Des Moines Area Community College that focused on careers for women in IT. It gave me a chance to think about some of the key skills that women bring to the tech table. Here are my top three:
Coaching
I don’t think it’s much of a surprise to say I’ve noticed differences in the way men and women communicate in a team setting. But I have seen a specific communication style I think female managers use really effectively: coaching.
When I finally worked for my first female president, I noticed that she asked questions in a way that encouraged exploration and guided me to reach my own conclusions. Instead of telling me what to do, she pointed to tools and focused on my growth and evolution. I loved that approach, and it translates well to the tech space.
Contemporary technology teams are made up of highly technical people who need to collaborate extensively. Good communication and personal investment make it work. It’s important that team members have buy-in and understand how their roles and personal development tracks impact the larger picture.
Emotional Intelligence
When I was considering coming to work for LenderClose, CEO Omar Jordan sent me an article about female leaders faring better during the pandemic. His gesture spoke volumes because it told me he recognized, and appreciated, the traits of empathetic leadership that many women often embody.
The tech profession is stressful enough without the added strain of a global virus outbreak. Building complex solutions in a landscape that’s rapidly changing and to which tech professionals are continuously pressured to adapt, naturally creates challenges. Throw in a pandemic that’s adding all sorts of new stressors – and the need to consider our colleagues’ emotional needs becomes clear.
When times are tough and people are struggling – whether it’s because of a public health crisis or a super-stressful project – showing empathy and concern for what team members are experiencing makes a powerful, positive difference. Sensing and responding to their emotional and social wellness improves both the workplace culture and employee performance.
Effective Team Building
During my career, the most outstanding professionals and leaders I have worked with weren’t the ones who seemed to know everything. Instead, it was the individuals who acknowledged they didn’t. Doing so requires humility and self-awareness, and I believe these are key strengths that help many female leaders build high-performing teams.
Recognizing that you don’t have all the answers and necessary skills encourages good leaders to surround themselves with those who have different strengths and can complement their weaknesses. The natural outcome is more diversity.
Technology solutions are becoming increasingly more innovative. The most creative, disruptive new ideas come from a team that looks at challenges through many different lenses.
I’m really proud of the diversity of our LenderClose technology team. That’s not just the ratio of women to men (which is 60/40), but the many different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and ages, too, that make up our fast-growing team. I know our technology is better because of it.
