From offering advice to sparking change, the best ideas often come from collaboration. Following a year of upheaval for women worldwide, there’s every reason to start 2021 as part of a supportive sisterhood.

This year, we’ve all felt the benefit of having a strong network around us. Whether it’s been clapping for the NHS on our doorstep, helping a neighbour out with some shopping or checking in on our friends via Zoom; now more than ever, we understand the real power of community.

In the same way that our shared optimistic spirit has carried us through 2020, finding solace in sisterhood could be the key to being our best selves at work, too. A recent survey found that 94% of women felt there was a greater need for networking groups that help female workers progress to the next step in their career. With this in mind, becoming an active part of a network could help women everywhere tackle next years’ challenges together.

A Year Of Change

The year isn't over quite yet, but 2020 has provided copious acts of kindness that have given the whole world a much-needed boost. However, it remains undeniable that it’s been an uncertain time for us all. In the face of change, it’s not surprising that many of us are starting to think of how we can bottle that same sense of comradery to benefit our workplace wellbeing and careers, too.

As women, the pandemic has further exacerbated some of the hurdles we were already facing at work. In fact, by experiencing the dual pressures of home-working, where childcare more often than not falls on mothers and creates the idea of putting in a ‘double-shift’, many women’s careers have felt stifled.

In fact, new global data found by the UN shows that the pandemic has impacted the way women work across the globe, pushing them into carrying out more unpaid care work and chores, with the danger of undoing 25 years of progress in the workplace. In the month of September this year, around 865,000 US women dropped out of the labour force, compared to 200,000 men.

Add that on top of the ongoing battle faced by women to secure equal pay, a level playing field of opportunities and exposure to C-suite roles, and you would be easily swayed into thinking the future for females in the workplace was bleak. But according to our research, that isn’t the case.

In a recent AllBright survey carried out this November, we found that women are still holding great focus on how community can help to nourish their careers, and are utilising their networks to do so. Remarkably, half (51%) of those asked revealed that they’re digitally networking more than they did before the pandemic. These figures highlight a striking rise in the number of us turning to technology to continue building and expanding our communities in the absence of face-to-face connection.

Women And Working Wellness

When our lives are busy, with our roles at work and home becoming an increasingly intertwined juggling act – some may ask, why add another commitment into the mix? Connecting with other like-minded women, that understand your battles, struggles and can relate to your anecdotes – both in the workplace, and out of it – can provide reassurance and importantly, spark incredible change.

In fact, women that set time aside to build long-lasting relationships with other women are happier, more resilient and less likely to encounter major setbacks in the face of adversity. A US study found that not only does surrounding yourself with supportive allies reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, but the statistics show that those surveyed didn’t react as badly to unwelcome change if they had a strong support network around them.

Similarly, a study from UCLA found that when feeling stressed, women are far more likely than men to reach out to other women for support, making a strong network a necessity for workplace wellness. With burnout recently being recognised by the World Health Organisation as a medical condition, looking after our wellbeing at work has never been more important.

The Power Of Pack Mentality

Naturally, there are numerous factors that contribute to the long-term benefits of having a supportive network around you. Not only is there power in the emotional cushion a sisterhood can offer in times of stress and success alike, but there are substantial facts to back up why women that support other women are more likely to progress faster, and to a higher level.  

Research has found that women with a close-knit community of female peers were in a better position to score executive roles and land themselves a higher salary in the process than those that lack female support. The impact of the female workforce coming together to share experiences and learnings - even when up against a backdrop of unconscious bias - can elevate their career prospects beyond what they may have achieved without trusted allies.

For one thing, businesses with women on boards are on the rise, and they work. This year, FTSE revealed that 33% of their 100 board members are now women, up from just 12.5% less than a decade ago. Similarly, research from the Harvard Business Review shows that introducing women to male-dominated board landscapes is proven to reduce overconfidence in their male counterparts, improving overall considered decision making for the business.

Meanwhile, a recent US survey found that there are 13 million female-owned businesses in America, with this number growing at a rate of 5%. Take into consideration that the US average growth rate for a business is 2.5% - and women are doubling it!

Sisterhood For Success

For many of us, 2020 has caused a dramatic shift in our day-to-day lives. The way we meet, connect and build relationships has changed – but your ability to utilise the meaningful connections you make shouldn’t have to be sacrificed. Over the last year, AllBright has gone digital, with our online platform giving you the chance to bring the essence of the club to you, no matter where you are.

Offering everything from insightful articles to engaging events, AllBright Digital membership is on hand to bring your team together as we close the door on this year, and step with vigour into the next.

Think it’s the way forward in keeping your team connected? Or perhaps you think it’s a hint worth dropping to your boss? Get in touch with our memberships team to secure your corporate package today by clicking here. Let’s head into the new year united.