The BIGG Successs Show
Women Can't Win
Why women still lag behind men in today's workplace. Read the show summary at biggsuccess.com.
Welcome to The Big Success Show. Today, we'll discuss why women can't win. The Big Success Show with George and Mary Lynn. Today we want to talk about the fact that women still lag behind men in today's workplace, especially when it comes to leadership roles. So we're going to talk specifically to the women of our audience today. But guys, I promise you this, I won't let Mary Lynn get on a roll and start bashing us guys. All right, you know, I've got a special bashing just for you when the show is over, George. I'll look forward to that. But seriously, we'll work our way up to some tips that apply to both women and men. And today is really about breaking stereotypes. But first, let's share some recent research. According to Catalyst, which is an organization that studies women in the workplace, gender stereotypes still play a major role in how women are judged. If they act in ways consistent with female stereotypes, their competence is called into question. But if their behavior was consistent with that of the stereotypical male, then their viewed as being too tough. Something else I found interesting Mary Lynn was because Catalyst has done these studies all around the world. They found that the characteristics of a good leader varied from region to region. But whatever was considered ideal, women fell short. So it would seem like we're beating our heads up against a wall here and women can't win. But here's the thing, Mary Lynn, we're optimists here at The Big Success Show. You can't change people's perceptions. And George, let's be direct. You cannot change someone's bias, bias that's based on stereotypes. You just can't control that person. Well, absolutely right, Mary Lynn. So why worry about it, right? Yeah. Focus on what you can control, what you can change because you do have complete control over how you conduct yourself and how you conduct your business. That's right, because you are the CEO of the most important organization in the world, you Inc. And today we're going to offer three tips to keep stereotypes from holding you back. You know, I applied for me, Inc. once, Mary Lynn, and I wouldn't take myself. Well, the first tip is this, be yourself. You're not going to change opinions that can't be changed. But if people get to know you and like you, or at least respect you, you'll succeed. Right. And if you're a nurturing person, be a nurturing person. If you're a more assertive person, be assertive. Don't try to please everybody. Don't second guess who you are to try to become what someone else wants. And don't ever apologize for who you are. The second tip is this, promote yourself. Make sure you're getting the credit that you deserve. We did a show on that not too long ago. So don't be so humble, whether you're male or female, make sure you're keeping track of what you're doing. And make sure that your boss knows what you're doing. You got to keep yourself in demand with your current company or with a new one. Thanks, Mary Lynn. That's a very nice segue into our third tip, which is this, if all else fails, find a different workplace. If your boss or your company isn't supportive of you, move on. Exactly. If you're not feeling the love, well, it's like a bad relationship. You got to get out of it and go work for a company that will appreciate you. If you're not completely ready for that step, start making the preparations. I usually make it preparation age. I know you've got that on hand. This is not an easy solution, obviously, but you have to go for what you want in life. And no one else is going to make that happen for you. And we'll call this tip 3B because it's still about finding a different workplace. If you're underappreciated, use that as your inspirational dissatisfaction to start your own business. This applies to men and women. But here's an interesting note, Mary Lynn. Research indicates that women are starting businesses at three times the rate of men today. It is astounding in coming up how women are turning stereotypes upside down with their own companies. Today, we're offering tips on overcoming stereotypes. And we just talked about how more women are starting their own business. And here's something that's very interesting about that. These traits that are viewed as negatives in the corporate world seem to be pluses in the entrepreneurial world. Isn't that something Margaret Heffernan wrote a book called How Women Entrepreneurs Are Changing the Rules of Business. She says that female entrepreneurs place a huge emphasis on values and relationships. They focus on creating a culture that includes employees, customers, and the community at large. And they're building companies that last and make a contribution. Hmm, that sounds like good leadership to me, Mary Lynn. Gee, are you sure that's not being a wimpy? So what are your thoughts on stereotypes and how to beat them? And we're not just talking gender here because there's all sorts of stereotypes out there. Share your ideas with us at BigSuccess.com. That's also where we have a written summary of today's show and a link to the book that we mentioned from Margaret Heffernan. And before we go, let's get our big quote for the day. Our big quote today is short and it was written by author unknown. And here it is. Some leaders are born women. Heck yeah. But no one is born a leader. You have to take action, but you can do it. After all, you've come a long way, baby. Next time, we'll sit down at the negotiating table and serve up some delicious tips for negotiating your next deal. I'm gonna have a big juicy steak. Hey, think I'll have some keys. Breaking stereotypes all the time around here. Hey, they're no good at Big Success Show. Until next time, here's to your big success. The Big Success Show at B-I-G-G Success.com. [BLANK_AUDIO]