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Break the Cycle: Manager tool for ensuring fairness in development opportunities

VH

10 min read

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Executive summary

Foundational research from Catalyst found that organizational talent management systems unintentionally replicated and reinforced a narrow set of existing leadership traits.1 As a result, people who mirrored the current leadership characteristics were more likely to move into leadership roles, perpetuating a narrow model of leadership behavior. But with better designed systems and increased awareness and intention, managers and human resources professionals can break this cycle to create workplaces in which everyone has the opportunity to advance and thrive. 

Managers: Start breaking the cycle with this PowerPoint template that will help you assess how fairly you are allocating opportunities to your reports and guide where you should direct your efforts going forward. 

How to cite: Hughes, V. (2026). Break the Cycle: Manager tool for ensuring fairness in development opportunities. Catalyst.

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