How to successfully work in a male team - advice to women who want to make a career at work
If you all your life dreamed of being the only rose among the thistle and expecting minute attention, care and support, then in vain. Usually, work in a men's company is comparable to military operations, overcoming obstacle course or climbing a high mountain. Prepare for the fact that in addition to the basic duties, you will have another concern - survival in a tough and harsh environment, with your rules, pace and specific relationships.
It should be noted that men in the service, especially when there are many, is not at all what men are after work. Somehow, women are accustomed to believe that a real man is necessarily a gallant knight who must take care of the lady in every way, knowing that she is a weak creature, to protect her from all the troubles and sorrows that lie in wait for service. Reality, most likely, will be different. Deciding to come to the men's team as a full-time employee, specialist, you cease to be a weak creature in the eyes of fellow men, become, like everyone else, a player of the team, to whom the same stringent requirements will be made as to all others. These are the conditions of the game in which you are going to play.
You will not be forgiven for failures and failures simply because you are a woman. At work, you are the same employee, specialist, professional, as well as all those who work together with you. A woman who does not understand and does not accept this simple scenario will lose. To prevent this, try to understand the psychology of work in the men's team.
First of all, this is a tough competition, in which the weak are not spared. Demanding a special relationship, you run the risk of receiving an irritating, brutal reaction from colleagues. Do not provoke them to do this. The optimal line of conduct is to show your professional abilities, to become a colleague and a strong player. Ability to demonstrate their successes and take special postures is an important game skill. You say that this behavior is like bragging and dishonesty? But for men this is a perfectly normal style of communication. They love to show off.
Therefore, just getting a job in a male team, do not tell in an interview that your goals and interests are good relations in the team, corporate events, etc. Only work, profit, result!
Do not expect colleagues to appreciate your talents and competence. You yourself must convince them of their skill. Demonstrate your competence and act confidently. Before I say "I do not know how", remember your achievements. After all, you have coped with so many different things! If, in response to a new proposal or appointment, you do not ask in confusion: "How is this done?", And cheerfully report: "No problem!" - you have a chance to quickly acquire the reputation of an energetic and promising employee.
Do not be substituted! If you are looking to be a competent person, mention your mistakes less often. To do this, do not lie or dodge, just do not show your blunders in public. By the way, you have to forget about the habit of apologizing about and without it. This is not very polite, but ... men consider excessive apologies "advertising their mistakes."
Often working women have to choose between home and career. Men, as a rule, do not like to recycle, but they do not suffer from this as well as women. It is understandable, because at home they are waiting for caring wives with a hot dinner and clean ironed shirts. You also expect a kitchen stove and an iron, hungry children and a husband who can not even smear a sandwich without you. To make a career in a company where working hours are not standardized, you will have to work long hours. So, you will have to choose between work and household duties. Men in this situation usually reduce the time spent at home, and women - work time. If you are not satisfied with such rules of the game - look for another job.
Another difficulty is that women often do not know how to keep in touch with business partners or clients. How do you feel about inviting a bore from a subsidiary company to a tennis court just because it depends on him signing the contract? And what do you think of a dinner with the "right people"? The prospect of such drinking is quite a severe test. Women in general are much more difficult than Men to withstand communication with unsympathetic people. But if in your company it is customary to spend additional efforts to attract customers - you will have to accept this. Or create for yourself a niche that no one but you can fill out.
