This is an interesting article I found while surfing the internet. It was published in the Guardian on November 1st, 2007. The article, found in full at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2202741,00.html#article_continue, speaks of how teams, which are an even gender mix, allow for “a psychological safe communication climate and self-confidence among members, which in turn provided fertile ground for innovation.” The study was published by the London Business School. It also found that “professional teams with an equal gender split were much more likely to experiment, share knowledge and fulfill tasks.”

The article goes on to say that “The report concludes that teams work best with an even mix because individuals tend to contribute less fully and confidently if they are in a minority. This applies to men as much as women, according to Lynda Gratton, professor at the centre and lead author of the study. She said: "It is not about gender, it is about minorities. Our data shows that whenever anybody is in a minority they suffer, and as a consequence the team suffers."

Have you experienced that same minority lack of self confidence to express your views or ideas on a gender unbalanced team? Working in a male dominated industry it makes me wonder if indeed we are getting all we can from our teams when they are so heavily dominated by one gender over another.

Try and be aware of this the next time you step into a gender unbalanced team. If you are facilitating a meeting try and engage the minority in the room to participate and make it comfortable for her or him to do so. After all, the first step toward change is awareness.