Gaining Respect as a Woman Is Possible

Summary

• When I was 23, starting my business journey, I had no experience managing anyone or building a business.
• In the beginning, I felt that being a woman might be why some people didn't listen to or respect me.
• Often, women think they are disrespected at work because of their gender.
• I've learned that you earn respect by demonstrating your business skills, not by talking about them.

Video

How To Take Action

I would suggest implementing simple strategies that can show your abilities and earn respect right away. Here are a few actionable steps:

Show Your Skills

• Lead by Example: Start by doing the hardest and least desirable tasks yourself. This shows your team that you are willing to work hard and are not afraid to get your hands dirty.
• Be Consistent: Make sure your actions match your words all the time. If you say you will do something, follow through. This builds trust and reliability.

Communicate Effectively

• Active Listening: Practice giving your full attention in conversations. This makes the other person feel valued and improves communication.
• Clear Instructions: When giving directions, be specific and clear. Break down tasks into manageable steps so everyone knows what is expected of them.

Learning and Adaptation

• Continuous Improvement: Regularly seek feedback from your team and clients. Use this feedback to improve your processes and products.
• Stay Informed: Spend time every day reading about your industry. This doesn’t take much time and keeps you knowledgeable about trends and changes.

Build Relationships

• Personal Connections: Get to know your team members on a personal level. Ask about their interests and lives outside of work. This fosters a friendly and supportive work environment.
• Recognition: Acknowledge the hard work your team does. This can be a simple thank you or public recognition in team meetings.

By making these small changes, you can effectively demonstrate your skills and earn the respect you deserve without spending a lot of money or time.

Full Transcript

when I was first starting off in business I was 23 I had never managed anybody before I'd never built a business before I didn't have a track record and so when I hired people there were a lot of times where I could have pointed to me being a woman as the reason that maybe they weren't listening to me they weren't respecting me they weren't doing what I asked them to do and what I see is this pattern of when women are not getting respect in the workplace the default is that it must be because I'm a woman what I've learned is that in business to earn respect from both women and men we don't talk about doing business we just demonstrate it