Many thanks to Desiree Grace for sharing an article this week featuring a study conducted by Thomas.net in collaboration with the national trade association, Women in Manufacturing. The study revealed findings in a number of areas: How women feel less valued than men, What companies can do to recruit and retain women, Unique ways manufacturing companies promote female advancement.
But my favorite piece from the study is the best advice for women in manufacturing to advance your career. These nuggets are outlined in a feature article and offer great tips for women in business, not just in manufacturing.
Be great at what you do
Advocate for your career
Believe in your abilities
Build supportive relationships
Find the right mentor
Seek out dependable allies
Building on these tips, here is my advice on how to THRIVE, not just SURVIVE as a woman in manufacturing and in business:
Check your woman card. This is a message I originally shared during the NAED WII Forum in 2018 when I accepted the Trailblazer Award. I hesitated and thought for a long time about whether or not to make this statement as part of my message....because it could really backfire....but I was retired and what did I have to lose? So, I went for it and shared the message. Here’s what I mean by “Check your woman card.” So many women go into a conversation with that little voice in her head second-guessing how her comments or ideas will be accepted because she is a “woman in the industry.” Some women have a “woe is me” attitude because she’s not part of the boy’s club. I grew up in the male-dominated electrical industry, stocking shelves, waiting on the counter, doing whatever work needed to be done. It never dawned on me that I was a minority until I attended an industry event and my little brother shared his Avon Story: “Some day I want to go to an Avon Convention…. because I want to know what it’s like to be you.” I looked up and realized that in a room of about 300 people, the only women in the room were me and 2 others. I was successful because I joined the conversation, faced new challenges, and took on new responsibilities as a “member of” the industry…not as a “woman in” the industry. I encourage you to do the same. Check your woman card and just be a “member of” the industry. You’ll be amazed at how the conversation shifts.
Find the right mentor....one of the tips from the Thomas.net report. I cannot agree more on this one. But don’t just ask someone “will you be my mentor?” Be intentional and deliberate in finding and building those mentor relationships. I was lucky to have a number of awesome mentors who encouraged me, challenged me, advised me and supported me to become the person and the leader that I am. But I lucked into it. If I had known then what I know now, I would have intentionally sought out mentors for different areas of development. If you want to learn more on this intentional approach, visit my website or www.EmpoweringWomenMentorshipProgram.com.
Find your special talent and build on that....Don’t worry about being perfect, just be great. Don’t be afraid to fail, because it’s through failures that we grow and learn. And find the thing that brings you joy. Love crunching numbers, maybe being an analyst is for you? Love interacting with people, maybe your perfect role is in sales or as a team leader. Find that thing (or things) that bring you joy and be great at it!
Seek out dependable allies....Ally is defined in Merrian-Webster as “one that is associated with another as a helper : a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort, activity, or struggle.” You’re not in this alone. There are so many men and women who want you to succeed and will help you succeed. Allies may be people in your same company or industry; but they don’t have to be. Seek out a diverse group of allies just as you seek out a diverse base of mentors. One great resource for women in the electrical industry is the Women in the Electrical Industry Networking Group (Wii). This network of women is focused with a mission to connect, inspire and advance the professional development of women in industry in an authentic community to make a difference. If you want to learn more, check out the LinkedIn group or reach out to me.
What tips do you have for women in manufacturing and in business? Please share in the comments.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash