This episode is the sixth and final in the Series on Navigating the Male Dominated Fields of Procurement & Supply Chain. If you missed any of the prior episodes you can access them on my website at PowerYourImpact.com.
Today we are going to talk about the labels that are placed on women and how you can mitigate this type of bias in the workplace. Find the show notes on my website at Poweryourimpact.com/7.
Female leaders are often caught in a double-bind. There is a mismatch between what is expected of a leader, and what is expected of a woman.
Social expectations call for women to be caring, warm, emotional and sensitive beings.
While men are expected to be assertive, rational, competent, and objective.
However, being assertive, competitive, and decisive are essential to being successful in the workplace.
Women who choose to deviate from the social script on how a woman “should” behave often find themselves the subject of gender labels.
A woman who displays assertiveness or ambition may be perceived as aggressive or bitchy, whereas a man may be perceived as a leader.
And when someone does not conform to these prescribed roles and behaviors they can be penalized.
Reality is that women are judged differently than men. This makes assertive communication a bit tricky for women.
So how can you effectively demonstrate that you have the leadership qualities that management is looking for?
You need to demonstrate your competence and your confidence without intimidation or forcefulness. You need to state your opinion clearly and passionately without losing the impact.
Your body language, your attitude, and your behavior can all play a role in whether you come across as aggressive or assertive.
It takes conscious effort to be seen as assertive, but if you understand how you come across to your audience, you have the power to make your presence known in an effective way.
Here are 5 techniques that I have seen high-performing women use effectively:
- Use impactful words when communicating your viewpoint.
Replace “I believe or I feel” with “I am confident or I am convinced.”
- Understand the difference between emotional communication and passionate communication.
Passion is purposeful and intentional, whereas emotion is a reaction to a stimulus.
- Be aware of your gaze.
Make direct eye contact without staring someone down or looking away.
- Get to the point.
Clearly state your objective and conclusion. Avoid sharing too many details about the effort to achieve the results.
- Communicate your achievements.
Advocate for yourself and your team, but fall short of bragging.
You have the power to change the label and be viewed as a leader. You are just as capable of driving results as your male peers.
