Why Can’t a Woman be More Like a Man? (Or Be True To Yourself)
If you’re a woman working in what in what is still very much predominantly a man’s world, you may well have asked yourself this question. How do you progress yet still be true to yourself? If you could ape male behaviours you might, (only might) have an easier path through your career. But you would not be true to yourself.
When we’re not true to ourselves we’re not happy. If we’re unhappy at work we’re not giving of our best.
Men And Women Are Different
I know, hold the front page! Who knew? Well, very few people it seems because most working practices have been set up to suit men very well and for decades women have been expected to adapt.
Men and women ARE different, for whatever reasons. And until what women bring to the workplace is equally valued along with male attributes, we’ll always be a pace behind, trying to fit into a male oriented workplace.
An issue that crops up time and time again when I’m coaching senior women is ‘how can I be true to myself yet still progress?’ My response is often to reverse the same question:
How can you progress without being true to yourself?
That way madness lies. So don’t try and behave like a man, dress in pinstripes, wear ties (shades of the 80s for those old enough to remember!) if that is not comfortable for you. Relish and be proud of your femininity.
Easy for me to say. Tricky for you to do…
Career Choices
If you are in a very traditional organisation where male attitudes dominate (however subliminal) you have some choices to make if you want to be true to yourself:
1)You can challenge the status quo, using whatever means are comfortable and appropriate for you and your circumstances. (There is masses of information in the blog section of this site to help you)
2) You can try and moderate your behaviour to the cultural norms and not rock the boat, i.e. behave like a man to get on, although as you aren’t actually a man, you may never cut the mustard.
3)You can plan to leave and go somewhere you can flourish!
If we women don’t promote feminine values in the workplace, who will?
N.B All of my photos come via Unsplash for which I pay a fee
RenewYou, My Tried and Tested Career Booster!
RenewYou has helped thousands of women make positive and lasting change in their lives. I deliver it one-to-one as part of a bespoke coaching package for women looking to move into leadership, to progress their career, or who wish to be the absolute best version of themselves.
Posted on April 17th, 2023 by Jane
