How Women Can Overcome Gender Bias At Work

She is strong. She is pushy. She is trying too hard to fit into the workplace. Her place really is in the kitchen. Her place is anywhere but here. Yes, even in the 21st century, these comments have been thrown around so much, it has become hard to ignore a simple fact. Women are still not considered good enough to be a part of the business world. However, if leaders like Richa Kar, Chanda Kochhar and Indra Nooyi had listened to the people who kept saying no, they would not be at the top. Here is how you can claw your way out of all the negativity and still make it to the top as a strong and independent woman!

1. Never accept it is a man’s world

Over a period of several generations, it has become a common belief that the world is run only by men. However, with the evolution of good sense and education, the perception has started shifting. Studies show, women are more capable and adept at understanding the finer aspects of running a business. When Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of Pepsico, started climbing the success ladder, she was determined to be the perfect wife and the perfect boss. Why? Because she refused to just bow down to the pressures of a male dominated world. There are great female leaders only because they chose to  fight the established order. Not because they chose to bow down to societal pressures.

2. Start surrounding yourself with like minded people

One of the primary reasons women entrepreneurs are succeeding in the course of the last few years is because people around them are accepting the energy and positivity. As a woman trying to make her presence felt in a man’s world, realise that it is vital to surround yourself with people who motivate you. Push yourself to make a mark in the world because of the people around you, not because of the people around you. When Richa Kar, the founder of Zivame, started designing lingerie for women, the only way she could have pushed herself toward success is by surrounding herself with people who truly believed in her goal!

3. Work around the bias

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Although there have been studies which show companies led by women are less likely to succeed than those led by men, there are also studies which show otherwise. Despite not directly ensuring success, it has been shown that companies led by women are taken seriously when linked with social causes. While this may not be as massive a win, it is still a massive stepping stone to working around the bias. Work with what you have and don’t get bogged down by the specifics. A true testament to this theory is Oprah Winfrey, a leading entrepreneur who not only became the first black woman to break barriers, but is also an iconic figure because of her social outreach.

4. Start creating a brand about yourself

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When you lead your business, you are a brand  yourself. This works as an advantage when you have to start approaching investors. Start tweeting, blogging, doing interviews and putting yourself in the limelight. Through this, you can start being heard by people around you and you can break through all the noise. With the world being all about social media, speaking publicly is the best way to be seen! Start building your image and in time, people will start taking notice of who you are. Indra Nooyi is a brand because she always put the best version of herself forward. Why? Because of how she portrays herself through the work she does and through the amount of confidence she displays while making public speeches!

5. Don’t let your fears hold you back

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When you are a woman leading an entire team, there are several things which can hold you back. There is always a fear of being taken for granted and of not being appreciated in the business world. People will start smelling fear and the moment you let your weakness overtake you, you put limitations on yourself. Don’t let your fears hold you back. Push yourself to achieve greatness and do not be modest about your achievements. When it comes to being an entrepreneur, there is no place in the business world for fear, so whatever you do, do not let the world  see your fears. When Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the founder of Biocon, set out to be a brewer, she realised no one was ready to accept a female brewer. It was only after she overcame the fear of rejection that she changed the course of her career and became a biochemist instead!

It is tough to overcome the gender bias even in today’s day and world. However, if you work around the barriers and the naysayers, there is nothing stopping you from being the best version of yourself. If you think we missed out on any other ways to get over the gender bias, comment and let us know!