In today’s times, it is indeed heartening to see women working and contributing actively in the corporate sector across functions. Some of them are in the C-levels and greatly influence the way they shape the organization and the overall corporate policies. According to a survey, did you know that in India, 74% of the HR workforce is female, which speaks volumes about their contribution in this domain? Although HR is a level-playing domain, males are lesser seen in this function. So, here we try to bust 5 common myths surrounding the male workforce by providing the truth behind them.
Myth 1: Male HRs have good mentorship skills
Once again, it is a notion that males are generally better at mentoring people for their next roles. It comes from an old perception that men are better at data and processes. Thus, while mentoring people, it is believed that men are likely to tackle issues and processes which involve strategy and data-led insights.
Fact: Mentoring is an individual trait
The obvious fact is that mentoring is more of an individual trait as mentorship needs people to be good at listening, being knowledgeable, and possessing the ability to be as candid as possible. So, these are not traits that are gender-specific and anyone can be good at mentoring people as long as they have the desired qualities to be a mentor.
Myth 2: Male HRs are not too friendly & are strict
As compared to female HRs, male HRs seem to be stricter and not very approachable to the employees. Thus, employees might think twice to approach their male HR colleague, as they might carry a perception of insensitivity on behalf of their colleague. On the other hand, female HRs are perceived as being more friendly and appear to sail through situations smoothly and not exercise a strict hand while dealing with employees.
Fact: Being strict is not being unfriendly too
Male HRs despite showing a strict demeanor might not be unfriendly. They can be as easygoing as their female counterparts. However, if the HR becomes over-friendly with the employees, the employees might start infringing on the HR rules and regulations, thus giving a chance of slipping and affecting the HR performance. In fact, HR, be it male or female, need to have good professional relations among employees.
Myth 3: Male HR tend to be cold & logical
It is a general perception that female HR professionals are more caring, and welcoming, and have amicable personalities, thus being able to better wade through the onboarding process and having a better sense of listening to employees’ grievances. On the other hand, male HR professionals are believed to be cold & distant and the general perception is that male counterparts cannot emotionally connect with employees.
Fact: Male HRs are good empathisers and can connect emotionally well
The truth is that male HRs are good empathisers too and very well bond with employees. However, their approach towards their tasks is straightforward, and their outlook is more towards getting things done. Male HRs can also logically address grievances and escalate issues to higher management. Here, too, they look pretty strategic and get straight to the point.
Also read: https://www.enspirehr.com/blogs/tips-to-manage-diversity-in-the-workplace/
Myth 4: Patience levels are low with Male HRs
It is a pre-conceived notion that women have more patience and tolerance towards demanding situations and tackle them in an understanding manner. Thus, women are perceived to generate a sense of faith in new recruits and employees and can quickly work towards their requirements. Also, the general perception is that women are more persevering and enduring in completing their tasks.
Fact: Male HRs can be equally patient as their female counterparts
The truth is that patience is a personal virtue and depends hugely on an individual rather than gender. At the workplace, you can encounter males with good patience levels and at the same females with not-so-good patience levels. Men generally communicate slightly lesser and with a choice of fewer words. Thus, this has become a fallacy that men have little patience.
Myth 5: Male HRs are biased towards management
It is a general perception that whenever management takes a decision on policies, male HRs always take management’s side and say yes to a lot of things decided by the management. They are generally insensitive to employees and play safe to be in the good books of management.
Fact: HRs role is mediation between employees and management
The fact of the matter is that HR is a mediator and a bridge between the employees and the management. They are the key people to resolve any issues between the management and the employees and see to the fact that both sides arrive at a common ground. Thus, this is irrespective of gender and in fact, irrespective of gender, HR is required to be a good negotiator for the smooth operations of the company.
Conclusion:
As it is rightly said, every coin has two sides. While we can argue that women are better due to their multitasking nature, men are more tolerant. Both men and women are equally capable of doing their tasks in the workplace, and no organization should judge employees based on gender.
As you can see, both sexes have advantages, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to which gender makes the best mentor. In the end, experts agree that your own personal developmental needs at a particular point in your life and career should determine which direction to take. All males who choose to work in human resources as a career deserve praise.