Life for women in the workplace is changing. This has been true for 100 years, but it’s also always been true that it isn’t quite evolving fast enough. In 2019, women are still fighting for equal pay and equal treatment. They are still struggling to be treated fairly, and they still have to fight for their rights. Men run most high profile companies, and older, white men dominate the boards of most big businesses. Even when it comes to smaller companies, in some industries that is still a heavy bias towards men. While some industries are striving for equality, and even becoming female-led, others are quite the opposite. In a world where it is easier to start a business than it has ever been before, and more small businesses start every day, there are still industries where men rule the roost. Where it’s much harder for a woman to startup and get taken seriously, and where it’s rare to see a woman working on the front line.
But, that doesn’t mean that women can’t do well with their own businesses in these fields. It just needs a confident woman to take the leap. Here are some ways to boost your confidence if you are hoping to start a business in a male-dominated world.
Know your stuff
As a woman in a man’s world, your confidence might suffer because you always feel as though you have to prove yourself, especially when you are first starting out. To get taken seriously, you’ll need to know what you are talking about. Knowing that you can answer questions and talk about your business with authority will help your confidence, and help others respect you.
Commit to learning
Learning is great on many levels. Commit to lifelong learning, and you’ll always be top of your game. You’ll know about new techniques and equipment. You’ll know that you are using the best tools, from your BSP Stainless Steel Fittings to your computers. You’ll be up to date on business, and changes within your industry and your skills will always be improving. You’ll be committed to finding new ways to build your business and finding ways to improve. It can also be a significant confidence boost. Just knowing that your knowledge is growing can make you feel more comfortable and self-assured.
Build a support network
Confidence comes from within. But, your support network still plays a part. Get rid of negativity, cut ties with the people that make you doubt yourself or question your abilities and instead surround yourself with people that believe in you, and that are quick to give you a boost if you need it. Build a support network of people that will always be there for you when you need them, and will stick with you when times are tough.
Look at the stats and the history
If ever you need a confidence boost, look back. Get a reminder of how far women have come. Just 30 years ago, it was rare to find a woman working in corporate America, and those that did were pushed into a more domestic field as soon as possible or encouraged to leave as soon as they got married. Today, around 47% of workers are women.
Yes, there’s often still a male bias, but that doesn’t mean that women haven’t come a long way. Many women that have come before you have worked hard pushed and fought for the opportunities that you have today. You starting your business, in a male world, could open doors for future generations of women in the workplace. You are making history. You are part of the change. What could be a bigger confidence boost?
Look at the positives
We all have bad days. Stay at home moms, casual workers, married women and single women, whatever we do and whomever we do it with, we have days when we struggle with our confidence. We wonder if we are doing the right thing, we worry that we aren’t good enough or that we are making the wrong choices. It’s normal. When this happens, stop for a second. Take a step back. Forget your to-do lists and your emails, and look at the positives. Look at everything that’s great in your life, all of your skills, everything that you can do well, and everything that you have achieved so far. It might also help you to write them down so that you’ve got something easy to look back on the next time that you need a boost.
