According to the authoritative agency Grant Thornton, which also deals with gender studies, Russia is among the three leaders in the world in terms of the number of women leaders. This is not surprising - our ladies are full of responsibility, dedication and education. They are quite successful in running large companies and even ministries. However, according to the women themselves, it is not at all easy to be a businesswoman in our country. There is even such a thing as a "glass ceiling", when it seems that a woman can calmly move up the career ladder, but there is no way above a certain position - men rule there.
Even those who can easily be called "iron ladies" often face gender inequality and sexism. They are not taken seriously despite their prestigious education and extensive work experience. As a result, the business under their leadership suffers. Often the fault here is stereotypes that have been living in society for centuries, such as "a woman's place is in the kitchen," "a woman is the keeper of the hearth, and a man is a breadwinner." Not all people have it in their heads that a colleague in a skirt can give instructions and be a tough manager.
However, many of the problems of women leaders lie in themselves, more precisely, in some aspects of psychoemotional qualities. Here are some tips for getting around the rough edges of your gender.
Separate the "wheat from the chaff"
Women are designed in such a way that they can successfully combine several things at the same time, in the focus of their attention is a number of directions at once. However, this kind of multitasking may not always work into the hands of a business woman. Here it is important for novice businesswoman to learn to keep their attention on the main thing - that is, on what will lead to the set global goal - and cut off the unnecessary. I recommend the SMART principle to help you - with it you will learn how to delegate and see the priority tasks. And one more important rule that should be taken into account: at work we think about work, at home - about family.
Be brave
“To take or not to take? This, little blue, or that polka dot? " - such internal dialogues are characteristic of women not only in the store. Unfortunately, in a critical situation at work, we often try to calculate all the risks, assess all possible consequences, thereby wasting precious time. Men usually, on the contrary, act boldly and can take big risks, which are then justified. From their own indecision, the ladies miss the chance, and then they are hard at the setbacks. This approach, no doubt, works into the hands of those who say that it is almost impossible to make an effective manager out of a woman. To prevent this from happening, you need to develop a kind of adventurism in decision-making and "thick skin". Even if something did not work out, you do not have to constantly scroll through the negative scenario in your head and be afraid of its repetition - go boldly forward! And remember: only the one who does nothing is not mistaken.
Trust yourself
This advice follows from the previous one. All women are arranged in such a way that even bright beauties and clever women must constantly receive confirmation that they are the best. The same is manifested in management: self-doubt is transmitted to others, but how can a ship sail if the team does not trust their captain? If you have no real reasons for doubt, your knowledge and competencies are enough - leave critical introspection and just do your job. If you see that somewhere you really are not finalizing, then you should raise your level of education, go to trainings and seminars, watch webinars. And do not forget about reading - successful businesswoman willingly share their experience, and literature on this topic can be found without problems.
Turn weaknesses into strengths
The psychology of the fair sex is significantly different from the psychology of men. But often it is precisely because of their psychological characteristics and character traits that women can be more effective at work. Take, for example, such properties as caring and nurturing, our notorious "maternal instinct." It is they who will help create “family”, warm relations between employees and management in your team. And this is a huge plus, because people are looking for a place where they will be emotionally comfortable. And often it is the pleasant atmosphere in the organization that is the intangible bonus that makes employees remain faithful to it, even if the salary level is lower than that of competitors. Another “minus” that can become a “plus” is our innate flexibility. It is especially valuable, for example, in negotiations. As the Chinese sage Lao Tzu said, "flexibility beats rigidity." Think about water - it knows how to make its way around large obstacles. Leave men to negotiate tough while looking for mutually beneficial compromises.
Men's radio to help
Often, because a woman leader has no one to consult with, she makes hurtful business mistakes that a man would hardly make. However, who should I turn to? You can't go to subordinates - authority will be destroyed. Pets are unlikely to understand the whole picture adequately. In this situation, you should consider finding yourself a male mentor. It is best if he is much older and more experienced in the business. At the same time, he should not be your sexual partner (remember the rule "nothing personal, only business"). With him you will be able to "synchronize your watches", consult, from him you will receive support and confidence in the correctness of what you are doing. With a mentor, you will bring into management the very “masculine” vision that will make your company stronger overall.
Watch out for your rivals
There are many anecdotes about "female friendship" that have their roots in real life situations. The spirit of competition between the representatives of the "weaker" sex in business is developed no less, if not more than among men. At the same time, it is often not just about some kind of honest competition - ladies often use meanness and manipulation, trying to destroy their image through gossip. Your victories poison their lives, and every mistake is a cause for celebration. One of the reasons for this "unsportsmanlike" behavior may be a battle for a man who is a partner of the company or one of its leaders. And then women are ready to do anything! And the confusion of personal and business goals, sex and work never leads to good and can even cause the collapse of the entire organization. Therefore, try to keep your distance with colleagues "in skirts".
In fact, there are many more “pitfalls” for women in business. However, there is also a positive moment: society is more and more ready to accept the new reality, when gender equality is not just beautiful words, but an existing practice.
