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Leading companies and businesses are vying with each other to prove that they do not gender - discriminate and that they encourage women at all levels.

To be able to be really successful in this highly competitive world, companies these days need to tap all the talent, quality, leadership, innovation and creativity that is available. It is invariably those companies that offer equal opportunities to both men and women that will undoubtedly attract and retain the best talent available. Want to join the league and ensure success for your company? Sitagita lists here a few measures that you can adopt in order to maximise the human resource of women.

• Women require a constant feedback on their job performance. They prefer candid reports and reviews about their work. With clearly laid out suggestions for improvement in work performance, you can make women feel more involved in their jobs which, in turn, will make them more responsible and better employees.

• Make women feel part of the organisation. You can do this by including them in every communication and also in important meetings. Listen to their needs and address their concerns. Acknowledge and encourage their individual contributions, if any.

• Allow women to grow within the organisation. You can do this only by giving them the same opportunities as men. Do this and you can watch them grow, develop and contribute to the prosperity of the company. Give them responsibilities to take charge of major projects and help them to plan and implement programs. Make it clear that you expect them to travel, relocate and be as totally committed to the company as men aspiring to leadership positions. When they prove themselves - and believe me, they will - acknowledge their achievement and do not discriminate when it comes to giving them high positions in the company.

• Should women want professional counselling on career advancement, do unto them what you would do to the men.

• Keep a tab on your women employees and identify potential managers at an early stage. Help these women advance in their careers through training and other developmental activities.

• Help them with a SWOT analysis . Strengthen their assertion skills. Encourage them in their commitment to their careers and long-term career plans.

• Qualified and exceptinal women should be provided with the exposure, knowledge and positioning for career advancement. This can be achieved through `fast track` programs tailored to their needs.

• Most women make excellent mentors. It is a natural gift that women possess. Provide them with opportunities to develop their mentoring skills with other employees. Allow them free and equal access to senior employees. This will automatically provide them advice and counselling support from knowledgeable senior-level staff who can also assess their capabilities on an individual level.

• Make women employees part of all social functions, company sponsored retreats and planning sessions. This will give them a sense of belonging and women being naturally loyal, will give of their best to the company. Because men are more comfortable in the company of other men during such exercises, women miss out on many of the career and business advancing opportunities during social functions.

By thus removing all barriers that block women`s advancement to senior level management positions, you ensure that your company`s growth is not retarded or threatened. Instead, you will be taking advantage of what is now an under-utilised management resource, thereby broadening your managerial base and placing your company firmly in a position of strength, giving it a cutting edge over others who have not understood the potential of their women employees.