During Barack Obama’s presidency, women on his staff were frustrated about their lack of influence. They were often outnumbered by men in meetings. They struggled to contribute to the conversation. When they did get a chance to speak, their contributions were often ignored, or a man would repeat the idea and get the credit.
To counteract this behavior and make their voices heard, the women used a strategy called amplification. “When a woman made a key point, other women would repeat it, giving credit to its author. This forced the men in the room to recognize the contribution—and denied them the chance to claim the idea as their own.”
President Obama soon noticed the technique. He began calling on women more, and the number of women staffers increased as well.
Questions
Why might women be reluctant to speak up in meetings?
What are the potential consequences of letting one demographic dominate workplace discussions and decisions?
What other strategies can people who have been traditionally underrepresented in the workplace use to make their voices heard?