
Empowering Women in Construction: Insights from Dr. Gretchen Gagel
Dr. Gretchen Gagel recently talked about her amazing journey in the construction business and her desire to give women in that field more power in a podcast episode. During her long career, Dr. Gagel has faced both problems and successes, which is what inspired her to write her new book, Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction.
Here are some key takeaways from the conversation, along with actionable steps for readers to consider.
Key Insights
The Importance of Allyship
Dr. Gagel stressed the important part allyship plays in the building sector. She related her experiences working as the first female operations manager at Ralston Purina, where she encountered client mistrust stemming from preference for male consultants. But Lou Bainbridge, her supervisor, was by her showing the value of allyship. This encouragement not only enabled her to thrive but also made clear how important it is for men and women to speak out for one another at work.
Navigating Unconscious Bias
Dr. Gagel related a personal story about a rideshare driver who based on appearance thought she was a flight attendant. This event emphasizes the need of knowledge of the several situations people encounter at the workplace. Men and women can make the surroundings more inclusive by realizing and overcoming unconscious prejudice.
Building a Strong Personal Brand
Dr. Gagel underlined for men and women in construction the need of personal branding. From their clothes to their communication style, she urged people to be aware of how they express themselves. A good personal brand shows professionalism and ideals, which will help one's career to progress greatly.
Investing in Self-Development
Dr. Gagel has always made constant investments in both her personal and professional development. She underlined the need of looking for mentoring and coaching independent of one's degree of accomplishment. This dedication to personal development not only raises individual capacity but also helps to produce a workforce more varied and capable.
Creating a Culture of Respect
Respect is vital in creating a good workplace, Dr. Gagel noted. She gave instances of how companies may foster a culture of respect and inclusiveness, which finally increases employee involvement and output.
Action Steps for Readers
Become an Ally
Whether you work in construction and are a male or a woman, be proactive to help your peers. This could be supporting a female colleague in meetings, guiding someone fresh into the field, or just listening actively. Encouragement of allyship helps to create a society whereby everyone feels appreciated and cherished.
Challenge Unconscious Bias
Think about your personal prejudices and how they could influence your contacts with other people. Talk about diversity and inclusion inside your company. Think about going to seminars or training courses on unconscious bias recognition and addressing. More fair treatment of every employee can follow from this awareness.
Invest in Your Personal Brand
Spend some time assessing how you come across in business environments. Are you dressing for your part? Are your emails polite and clear? Think about asking reliable coworkers for comments on your personal brand. Invest in your growth as well by reading books, going to seminars, or looking for a career mentor.
Foster a Culture of Respect
If you hold a leadership role, give developing a polite workplace culture top priority. Policies that support diversity, honest communication, and appreciation of all team members help to accomplish this. Frequent evaluation of the office surroundings and necessary changes will help to guarantee everyone feels valued and respected.
Those in the building sector can help to create a more inclusive and empowering surroundings for women and other workers by following these guidelines. The observations of Dr. Gagel remind us strongly that everyone of us starts a transformation journey and that, taken together, we can create a more varied and stronger sector.
Resources
Grab Brad's tell-all book: The Contractor Profit Blueprint