Being successful in business takes a lot of great skills and some good luck. However, being successful in business as a woman often requires something different than it does for men. Because men and women are inherently different, especially in the workplace, it takes gaining and honing different skills in order for a women to find the business success she may be looking for. So to help those of you wanting to find that success, here are three things to improve to become a more successful business woman.
Understanding Calculated Risks
In general, men are a lot more willing to take risks than women are. While this does make woman more of a safe bet, it also means that men are often the ones who get bigger rewards in business because they’re willing to risk more. Therefore, in order to reach goals you haven’t previously, businesswomen need to learn how to make more calculated risks.
According to Emma Gray, a contributor to the Huffington Post, once women take fear out of their decision making process, they’re opened up to an entire world of possibilities that previously seemed impossible. However, keep in mind that we’re only talking about calculated risks, not unintelligent risks. If there’s something risky you could do to get ahead but the risk outweighs the reward, like it could destroy your credit, you may want to consider another option.
Working Well With Others
In previous times, men who were unafraid to be abrasive and take what they wanted with little regard to others in their company were often the ones who got the big breaks and found success. This meant that women, who generally are more passive and nurturing, were left in the dust. But according to Katharine Hansen, a contributor to LiveCareer.com, the newer styles of management in business today lend themselves very well to these more feminine characteristics. Knowing this, don’t shy away from your ability to play well with others and contribute to a productive team.
Accepting Constructive Criticism
Just as men are generally less subtle about their ideas and opinions, they are also typically less sensitive to receiving criticism when those ideas or opinions are passed up. And according to Robin Camarote, a contributor to Inc.com, this attribute in women can hold you back from having success when it means you’re not given the constructive criticism you need to improve at your position. By allowing others the freedom to give you the constructive criticism you need, you’ll be able to improve faster and more accurately in your business career.
If you’ve been trying to find more business success but haven’t known where to start, try using some of the tips mentioned above to improve yourself today.