How to Become a Successful Business Woman

Slowly but surely women are gaining equal footing with their male counterparts in the business world.  In many areas where men used to dominate the world of big business, woman are starting to emerge as leaders.  All over the world women are shattering the notion that they can’t be as successful in the workplace as men.  While there is still disparity in pay in many fields, women are gaining traction in how they are seen as leaders in the business community.  So how to become a successful business woman?

First off do your homework.  Try reading about other successful business women.  Researching and learning about the backgrounds of women who have made a success of themselves in a man’s world is a great place to start.  This might help to inspire and motivate you.  Reading their stories can give you an idea about what the path to success looks like and what obstacles you might have to overcome along the way.

Additionally, try researching power women in your field of interest.  One woman’s success can pave the way for others to follow in her footsteps.  Learning about successful women in your field will give you a better idea of how they got there and what a typical career path might look like – where they started from and how they got where they are today; what motivation and encouragement from others it took to make a success of themselves.

Even though it might seem daunting, try considering a field with fewer women in it.  Some fields with less women are looking to bring them on board to show they are willing to offer parity in the workplace.  Many fields even offer scholarships programs or grants to get women to come on board.

Determine how to balance work and family.  Oftentimes, men don’t have to make this choice but women do.  One of the greatest concerns for women who want to enter the workforce is that it might take them away from their home and children.  If you are married, discuss with your husband ways that both of you can have successful careers without damaging home life.  Make compromises.  There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having ambition and not wanting to be a stay-at-home mom.

Overcome pay inequality.  “Despite making fantastic progress in terms of the number of women in the workforce and the proportion of those who go on to reach managerial and executive positions, there is still a long way to go, especially when it comes to equal pay.”  The honest truth, as unfair as it may be, is that woman oftentimes earn less money than their male counterparts do for the same amount of work.  Don’t undervalue yourself.  Learn how to negotiate.  Once you know your value, you should work on selling your qualifications, skills and achievements.  Do your homework and know what other women in similar positions are earning.  And additionally, never forget that you are entitled to ask for a raise if you feel you are doing a great job and adding value to the company for which you work.

Have confidence.  Being confident in yourself and your abilities is key to becoming a successful businesswoman.  People view you as you view yourself.  Portray yourself as confident and people will see you that way.  Don’t let self-doubt overwhelm you.  Remember you’ve made it to where you are because you are smart and capable and worked hard.  Project confidence through your body language.  Always walk into any room with your head held high and stand tall.  Give a firm handshake and hold eye contact.  Don’t be submissive or intimidated by your male counterparts.

Be assertive.  Women are very oftentimes stereotyped as weak or emotional.  The best way to overcome this notion is to disprove it.  If you are assertive, people are more likely to respect you.  Don’t let your emotions overwhelm you and never let them see you sweat as cliché as that may sound.

Handle criticism well.  It’s important to be able to grow from criticism and not let it deter you from doing a good job.  Don’t let it get you down and discourage you.  Realize that through criticism people are trying to help you improve.

Lastly, pursue what you love.  “Being a successful businesswoman takes focus, determination, passion and most of all, time.”  If you follow a career that makes you happy, you have a better chance of succeeding at it and being rewarded with monetary parity.  When you do what you love, you’re more likely to do it well.  Being passionate about something breeds success.

While women face many challenges in the workplace today, mostly inequity in pay as I’ve discussed above, there’s no reason that through hard work and determination you can’t make a success of yourself.  Use the advice I’ve given above and you might find your way to becoming a successful businesswoman more quickly than you anticipated.

Here are some articles you might want to check out about becoming a successful businesswoman:

“Seven Secrets of Highly Successful Businesswomen”: http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/10/secrets-of-successful-people-careers-forbes-woman-leadership-getting-ahead.html

“Secrets of Successful Businesswomen”: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/2757.html

“Top Ten Characteristics of Successful Women Business Owners”: http://www.womensleadershipexchange.com/index.php?pagename=resourceinfo&resourcekey=493

“How to Be a Successful Woman in Business”: http://findyourdreamjob.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/how-to-be-a-successful-woman-in-business/

Until next time…