Why new women managers need not try to be more “masculine’ to lead well
Many times I’ve seen the change in persona of women who have recently been promoted to managers. I often observe a tendency for them to behave more aggressively or throw around more profanities than usual. If one didn’t know, one would think that she was trying to be macho, but that is exactly what it is.
Women tend to self doubt and compensate for what we think we are lacking from our male managerial counterparts. Rather than celebrating our rise to the ranks, chances are you are worrying about the challenges you have not even faced, or the skills you lack to handle the many things you do not know.
Spouting more profanities is certainly not going to make you more capable or assertive as a manager, neither will it help you fit in better with your male counterparts.
It’s important to remember that you were chosen for the strengths that you possess and the diversity that you bring to the table.
Now thread carefully, bringing your authentic self, doesn’t mean being the nice one. In a professional setting, It means doing the right thing, being the good one and not the nice you – that we leave for in a personal setting.
