What is keeping you from hiring more women or advocating the hire of more women in your workplace?  I’ve consistently heard these four things from organizations and today I’m here to bust some of the myths that are hindering you and your company from having top talent in your folds:

Myth #1:  Women lack confidence -  As the myth goes,  women lack the confidence to lead, lack confidence in their ideas and abilities,  and lack confidence in themselves in general.  In reality,  women who are confident are often penalized in the workplace.  They might be called abrasive or aggressive.  They might be told they are “too much” and need to speak less.   What is perceived or attributed to a lack of confidence is often women adjusting to the prevailing culture of the organization. Before attributing silence and a lack of taking charge to a lack of leadership ability or confidence,  take a few minutes to evaluate how your organization reacts to or how it does or does not empower women who step forward and advocate for themselves and/or their ideas.

Myth #2:  Women don't help other women – “Women are competitive.  Women are catty.  Women want to be Queen Bee,  so they're territorial.”   Most women have probably encountered at least one of these myths in their working lives and they are not entirely untrue.  There are some women,  just like there are some men,  who embody these qualities.  In my experience,  however,  women are more than willing to help other women make gains in their careers.  Whether it be through mentoring, networking, boosting each other up on social media, or mentioning their names when opportunities arise, women helping women is part of what has allowed for advancement of women’s rights and women in general.

Myth #3:  Women talk too much – The myth of the chatty woman really needs busting,  particularly in the workplace.  In conversations I’ve had with other women, and in my personal experience, many women have stopped talking at all. In many calls and meetings women's ideas are often disregarded or not listened to at all.  To make sure all ideas are given a fair shake regardless of gender, consider instituting a popcorn or round robin approach in meetings where each person is given a certain amount of time to share thoughts and present ideas. 

Myth #4:  Women need fixing -  “Women are too soft. Women are emotional. Women avoid conflict and won't push for their ideas. The only way they'll succeed in today's corporate culture is if they stop being women and start acting more like men.”   One big issue with these thoughts is that they give the impression that there is only one correct way to get a job done, or one opinion that holds any clout. In reality,  there are often many ways to solve the same problem.  Here you can take the gender divide out of the equation and the need to be open-minded to a variety of solutions will still exist. Allowing and encouraging diversity of thought requires bringing more people to the table with more opinions for the purpose of producing different results. This is where you begin to cultivate growth and innovation. The other myth mentioned is that “women are too soft,” implying that having, and more so showing, emotion is somehow a weakness or an unfavorable trait.  The reality of it is that not all women are driven by emotion, however for those women - and men - that are, embracing these traits as a strength and competitive advantage can lead your organization to be seen as more authentic and empathic, seeming more human and relatable, which is highly favorable in this evolving marketplace.  It’s learning how to embrace the traits and skills that women bring to the table that will be game-changing for your organization.

So why is busting these myths so vital? Focusing on diversity in the workplace is something that can no longer be ignored. Companies and organizations that provide opportunities for women from entry level to senior leadership positions will find themselves in good favor as the world moves forward. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kristine Shreve founded the Women in Garment Decoration group on Facebook.   She is the creator and host of the Women + Business podcast.  She writes, or has written for Printwear, Stitches, Wearables and Engraver’s Journal – magazines that serve the garment decoration industry.  She speaks about social media at the Decorated Apparel Expo, a trade show that also serves the garment decoration industry and has won regional ASPBE gold medals for the Ask an Expert column featured in Stitches Magazine and the DecQuorum blog for the same publication.  Kristine was also the Director of Marketing for Ensign Emblem and EnMart - both companies in the garment decoration industry.

In her words, “I’ve been a writer since I could form letters.  I’ve been editing my work, and the work of others almost as long.  I’m interested in teaching businesses about how to be better at and do better with their marketing and social media because I come from a long line of teachers.  Teaching is in my genes.

Do I have all the answers?  Not even close.

Do I know some of the right questions to ask?  Definitely.”

To get in touch with Kristine, you can visit her website or connect with her on LinkedIn.