Success for any woman - whether as a professional, an entrepreneur or a corporate executive - requires careful, calculated branding, to enter the arena as well as to stay in the game. And double that if you want to succeed at the highest levels in your profession.
The conservative wisdom has been that women have trouble in succeeding because they don't act like men. But playing the game or running the business like a man doesn't work as it brands women as tough and aggressive. To succeed in business career, should women really mimic male managers in dress and mind-set? Learn to play by (predominantly male) rules of the game? Definitely not! Instead, they should use the distinct advantage given by their feminine values for guiding them into building humane, profitable and well-run companies.
You can make even more progress by leveraging your female aptitudes. A recent research reveals that women are naturally "wired" for success in career. They have female attributes which can give them a significant advantage in the workplace, especially in today's global marketplace, where communication collaboration and cooperation - all female strengths - are prized. In business, you personal brand must come from who you are as well as what makes you tick, including your strong points and aptitudes as a woman.
Here are easy ways you can use your innately female aptitudes to boost your business success:
Turn up your EQ (Empathy Quotient)
Women are especially empathetic and intuitive. So, use these emotional strengths and be open and responsive to the feelings of others and build healthy and strong relationships. You can use empathy for building consensus around a common goal.
Use your "packaging" advantage
Studies show that attractive people not only make more money, but they are viewed as more productive, smarter and competent. Women have an advantage because they have more "visual packaging tools". From a personal branding perspective, being noticed is very important. But don't mimic the male model; Dress like a woman and accentuate your best features. You don't have to look like a fashion model; just think about what your visual images conveys - your poise, your grooming, etc.
Speak with Panache
Women normally outscore men on written and oral tests as they use both the hemispheres of brain to process emotional and verbal messages. Use your verbal skills to speak up. Ask different questions and listen with attunement to hone your business presentation and conversational skills.
Read between the lines
Research shows that women are better at picking up the emotional messages than men. They are able to pick up the body language and can also detect unspoken signals of confusion, frustration and distress. Hence, try to see what's going on behind the scenes. Look beyond the verbal messages that people are conveying in meeting. For example, if something is incomplete or uncomfortable, act on your hunch and follow up with a phone call.
Be inclusive and empowering
To choose inclusion rather than exclusion, is a powerful female strength. In today's global and modern companies, the ability to work well with different groups will set you apart. Try to encourage different perspective and offer goodwill to friends as well as foes. Research has proved that women tend to work together effectively, empowering other members of the team to contribute and accomplish tasks. So, create teams and a personal "board of directors" to advise you and make sure that you have included men too. Give public credit to others when they contribute.
Leverage your people power
Women are natural born team workers, networkers and relationship mavens. They have the social gene and an innate ability to connect with people and build relationships. The larger your business network, the more career capital you'll have. So, use your people skills to build a broad business network and business relationships. Don't just use your people power for developing deep relationships with a few; but use it to develop a broad network with all types of people.
See a big picture
Women tend to take multiple perspectives and consider a larger framework when making a decision or solving a problem, while men's problem solving styles is different - more narrowly focused and more linear. So, use your problem-solving style to uncover opportunities as well as risks, and bring innovation and creativity to your work.
Be likeable
Likeability is a key asset of workplace and women's gift for empathy, compassion, and intuition makes them more likeable. Let's face it; workplace is a personality contest too. So, smile and be positive and you'll win over business fans and be more influential in your business.
