Doing Business As A Woman

Being a woman in the workforce requires the ability to wear a lot of hats. Just think about many come to mind. While we work as real estate agents, doctors, lawyers, bankers, tellers or whatever it is we do to make a living, we also wear many different hats as well, right?

Let's list some: caretaker, cleaner, chef, maid, chauffeur, household manager, budget expert, wife, mother, daughter, friend, therapist, nurse, coach, teacher, tutor, playmate, handyman, and I’m sure many many many more.

But you know it’s these extra responsibilities that makes us so amazing and huge assets to our fields. We bring a uniqueness to everything we do thanks to our feminine touch as we juggle ways to come out ahead, to push our way to the top, and prove we belong in our roles just as much and in many cases more than our male counterparts.

All of this can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time. It makes many of us realize and see our full potential but the problem is getting others to see it….and not say just men. Women can be just as bad in the work environment as men….and in some cases worse. We judge and gossip and judge some more. And this needs to stop. Women need to help women advance. We need to be advocates for other women.
True feminine leaders in the force comes from women learning and supporting one another. If we can’t prove it to ourselves then HOW are we going to prove it to Bob and Jim and all the other men in the workforce?

Fortunately women in the workforce is changing. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women share 46.8% of the total labor force in the United States. And that is an exciting number. And according to the Center for Women’s Business Research, women-owned businesses make up 40% of ALL privately held US companies and women entrepreneurs are making their mark as well. In fact, women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of business owners in America.

But what roles are we filling? How many are business leaders? What is a business leader?  And what is the work environment like? Is it very “bro-y”, “mucho”, or is there a feminine touch? So many questions come to mind.

​Women add a tremendous amount of value to a company...probably much more than we even know. Empathy, intuition and optimism are values that women bring that help to push the workforce in a nice direction and for the benefit of business. Another value we bring that is not valued as much, is when we assert.  Instead we are labeled and probably name called by both men and women.

So remember to back one another up. Support your fellow female in the workplace. Learn from one another. It’s these actions that allow us to plant the seed for more women to hit the job market and become business leaders. We are changing the rules and even writing new ones. It’s super exciting and promising for our future.