As a women who has worked in male-dominated fields for a very long time, I really do believe that with our different brain type and our different way of seeing things, we women have so much to contribute in the business world. We are creative and nurturing, we’re team players–all the things we’re known to be. Our point of view is an asset, rather than a challenge, and something that should be embraced in predominantly male organizations.
Here is my advice to women trying to succeed in a male-dominated field:
- Do not give up your femininity to succeed in a man’s world. I went through that phase, but you know what? I am a woman and I want to be a woman. I will not develop a thick skin for them. I will not wear my hair short and look like a man to fit in anymore. I want to wear a skirt and ruffled blouses–appropriately feminine clothing–and if that makes me less competitive, that’s just too bad.
- Learn how to talk to men. Just as I’ve had to train men to talk the way women communicate, I’ve had to learn to talk so that men can hear me. And this means:
- Talk in bullet-point fashion, not storytelling fashion. Because when you tell long stories, men go to sleep.
- Present statistics. Short anecdotes are good too.
- Use humor. I do this a lot to get around the bumpy moments. I’ve had some very challenging situations, as you can imagine–not all of them behave themselves 100% of the time!
- Be confident. I tell women all the time who are struggling professionally to just be yourself because who you are is your greatest contribution–no matter what your professional level is.
- Research the company culture. If you’re a woman looking for employment, do a lot of research on the companies you are considering. Does the organizational culture nurture all employees equally? Are they as female-friendly internally as they are externally? How a company treats their women customers says a lot about the culture.
- Strike a balance. In today’s marketplace, especially during these tough economic times when jobs are not as easy to keep, we have to strike a balance between standing up for ourselves and going too far. For example, it’s a little-known fact that most car dealerships and tire dealerships don’t have HR departments monitoring sexual harassment issues and other things that women end up having to tolerate to stay employed. So women in these fields often need to stand up for ourselves–but we also don’t want to lose our jobs by being abrasive, making too much noise, and standing up too far. It’s definitely a challenge.
Do you have advice for women trying to succeed in a male-dominated field? Share it below!
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Jody. I work with Dealer Principals and their Executive Teams in Canada. I have worked in this and other male-dominated industries for many years. My ‘male’ clients express that I contribute greatly by bringing ‘professional composure’ to intense situations. I believe that being gracious, professional in all relationships, along with appropriate humour (not baudy locker-room humour) attracts a level of respect that is critical to success in a male-dominated field. Unfortunately, I do observe women falling into the trap of being ‘one-of-the-guys’ and joining in with inappropriate language or dressing inappropriately fo a professional workplace. Having and USING our voice to promote women-friendly programs and other healthy workplace programs is also important. Women have an important part in making the workplace a better place for everyone. Our ability to build respectful relationships without compromizing our Self, our dignity, our values, and our integrity keeps us grounded in male-dominated fields.
I heartily agree! Thanks for your comment.