Take Action:

Women’s contributions to meetings often aren’t acknowledged. Multiple studies conclude that women are interrupted more often in meetings and their ideas taken less seriously than men.34 We see it in meetings and on award shows (recall Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift after she won a Grammy). This behavior is so common that there is now a word for it: mansplaining, when a man interrupts a woman to explain something that the woman knows more about than he does. If this happens in a meeting, stand up for your colleague by reinforcing what she said and giving her due credit for her idea.

Ask about establishing meeting ground rules to level the playing field:

•    Don’t allow people to talk over each other

•    Go around the room to get everyone’s input on a critical decision

•    Keep track of who has spoken and call on those who have not before giving someone a second opportunity

If there are issues with people assuming a male subordinate is in charge, or one of your male colleagues takes credit for someone else’s ideas, be willing to have an uncomfortable conversation early (and often).