Being A Woman In A Male Dominated Industry
How to deal with the pressures of working in a male-dominated industry
Having worked in the sector of technology and science for twelve years now there’s a lot I’ve learned about being a woman in spaces that aren’t always very female-friendly. Here are my tips for how to approach dealing with the pressures of working in a male-dominated industry.
Learn to use the fact that you stand out to your advantage. A good friend of mine works in an international corporation in the construction industry. She is always immaculately dressed, heels and lipstick on, and tends to attract a lot of attention. She is also one of the top performers in her company and definitely stands out for all the right reasons. This she uses to her advantage and she is now on the fast track to becoming the MD of the UK branch.
Find a sponsor. Whether female or male, find someone who’s got your back and will become your champion within the organization. If getting formal sponsorship appears tricky, focus on cultivating relationships with those who believe in you.
Create a bubble of support for women in the same or similar circumstances. Alternatively, mentor young women looking to work in your industry. Some say the best way to help yourself is to help others in your place. Plus it positions you as a leader of a community or a support network.
Be proactive when it comes to asking for a promotion. Chances are that because there are fewer women in your workplace, your manager will be keen to support the development of your career anyway. Stay positive and confident in your abilities. Women typically underplay their capabilities in comparison with men.
Invest in self-care. Make sure you have dedicated time slots in your diary every week that are all about “me time”. Be it a creative hobby (mine, for many years, used to be burlesque!), or time to do whatever you feel called to do in the moment, simply book it in your calendar. Also, more time to simply recover or sleep tends to be underrated. My own “me time” includes 1.5-2h of a morning routine (yoga, meditation, reading, journaling), weekly therapy and group coaching sessions, personal training, Reiki healing, Bible study with a friend, church on Sunday. That’s a lot of self-care every week! Frankly, I’m proud of it.
Be bloody brilliant at what you do. This tends to go without saying. It may sound like a cliche but aim to work smarter rather than harder. Efficiency tends to go a long way. Invest in productivity tools, perhaps hire an accountability coach to help make sure that you achieve your goals.
On top of the above, there are many different things to do to ensure you thrive in a male-dominated industry and/or workplace. The most important one of all is to know yourself, believe in yourself, and be your own best friend. If you can achieve that, all of the external challenges are likely to feel like a game designed to make you develop and grow.