Gender Diversity, Unconscious Bias, and Leadership for Organizational and Planetary Health

This chapter explains why gender diversity is beneficial for organizations and institutions. The discussion begins with defining gender diversity in a way that goes beyond the discourse around men and women to include non-binary gender identities, cultural symbols, and archetypes. It provides a focus on the need to include those marginalized at the leadership level and at all levels of privilege and power in society. It illustrates the unconscious bias of decision makers which hampers diversity and inclusion. The chapter argues that the different genders come from different social contexts and experience distinctly different challenges, and thus lead in different ways. As a result, different leadership styles, lenses and approaches to policy and to how people work and engage with one another emerge from homophily compared to diversity in leadership teams and networks. Diversity enhances innovation and the ability of human and biological systems to thrive and evolve. Furthermore, diversity is important for organizations to grasp and embrace the diverse needs and interests of those served. Gender diversity therefore is essential not only for equality but for leadership effectiveness and organizational impact, thereby enhancing psychological, societal, and planetary health. Finally, the chapter provides recommendations for organizations and institutions to uncover unconscious bias and take the appropriate steps to enhance gender diversity, equality, and inclusion.