A study Board Benchmarking conducted in association with Insync examined the impact of gender diversity on board effectiveness, based on the views of around 850 directors serving on more than 100 boards.
The research determined (and perhaps for some, confirmed) that male dominated boards and gender diverse boards (boards comprising at least 33% women) are meaningfully different in a number of important respects, including:
- women’s different experiences and perspectives contribute to fresh thinking and innovation
- their interpersonal skills lead to more productive discussion and an increased focus on solving tough problems
- women generally have greater diligence around meeting preparation and processes which increases rigour and accountability
- greater unity is achieved through a focus on collegiality, responsiveness and reduced conflict