While equality of opportunity and experience in the business world is certainly improving, and while my coaching approach remains the same regardless of the gender of my client, I do find some themes recur among my female clients more strongly and more often. Examples of such topics include how to:
- Raise and redress issues of inequality
- Negotiate strongly regarding promotions/salary expectations
- Juggle work and family demands
- Deal with unhelpful organisational cultures
- Return to work after break for children
- Cope with feelings of guilt regarding time away from family
- Gain clarity around career goals and growth opportunities
- Consider options that are outside the mainstream career path
Of course, I don’t mean to suggest that these issues are pertinent only to women; men face many of these same challenges. However, having and raising children and/or supporting other family members, tend to affect women’s careers more significantly than those of men. Also, as most workplaces are still male-dominated, particularly at senior-management levels, issues around equality and access to power are often trickier for women to manage.