Why Women Rock the Workplace

By Christa Leupen

Men and women have undeniable differences. Women in the workplace have sometimes been labeled as passive, soft and emotional, whereas men were seen as aggressive and edgy. But recently, those gender stereotypes have been challenged, and women have taken the reins in the business world.

“The conventional wisdom has been that women have trouble succeeding because they don’t act like men,” stated Catherine Kaputa, author of The Female Brand: Using the Female Mindset to Succeed in Business. Instead, Kaputa believes playing it like a man is not the best option for a woman simply because they are not men and there is nothing wrong with that — actually, it can be an advantage.

Some of the common characteristics in women’s personalities that are beneficial to a working environment are listed in Kaputa’s “Top 10 Ways to Use Your Female Advantage in Business.” One such suggestion is, “Turn up your empathy quotient.” Kaputa states that women have higher levels of estrogen and oxytocin, which leads to being more empathetic to others. Another tip is to “reach out and connect.” Women are team-builders and focus on relationships more than men tend to, which is a strong advantage for building beneficial business relationships. Women have the ability to “read between the lines” and pick up emotional messages through unspoken signals, such as body language and facial expressions. This ability to read others’ emotions and be empathetic to them also allows women the strength to empower others.

Women have advantages over men that many men cannot mimic, and vice versa, so they don’t need to pretend to be aggressive and tough against natural instincts. However, it is always important to be yourself in the workplace by branding your personality and strengths.

With all these star qualities that make a wonder woman, it’s important for ladies to create a personal brand that will cater to their natural strengths and lead to success and acknowledgment in the workplace.

Join Cary Magazine for the 2nd Annual Women of Western Wake Luncheon at The Umstead Hotel and Spa on Nov. 6 to learn what our panel of local women leaders think makes women a unique commodity in a professional environment.