Are You a Member of the
Women’s Team?

In the book, “She Wins You Win,” Gail Evans wrote, “The one rule is: Every woman must always play on the women’s team. Why? Because every time any woman succeeds in business, your chances of succeeding increase. And every time a woman fails in business, your chances of failure increase.”

Although women make up 47 percent of the work force, only 12 percent are in the upper executive ranks. More shocking statistics are that only four percent are top earners and 6.2 percent hold clout titles (chairman, chief executive officer, chief operating officer, etc.). Among the fortune 500 companies there are only four women CEO’s.

The wage gap is seen across the board from non-profit to the limited number of top-level positions currently held by women.

So what else is new?

We already know that we are overworked and underpaid. Is this just another opportunity to raise our voices that will only fall upon deaf ears? The more we continue to attempt to succeed in the way we think men want us to, the further behind we will fall.

It’s time to stop trying to reinvent ourselves and instead it’s time to launch a new strategy; one that will promote our careers as a whole “rather than”, as Evans states, “advance our careers at the expense of other women.”

It’s time we begin to create and play by our rules. It’s time to talk to each other, plan together, and work to improve the situation for all of us, not just for one of us. It’s time that we recognize that we all are working on one team - the women’s team. “This team cuts across the boundaries of business, ethnicity, age and nationality. It’s a reality for which there is no exception.”

“Women will only make it if we make it together. One isolated success here or there won’t do the trick. Only when we achieve critical mass at the highest levels can we fully realize our potential at the office” – Gail Evans

It’s time to begin. In her groundbreaking book, Gail provides 7 Tips for the Team. Below are the highlights:

1. Be a Mentor – Mentoring means teaching; by example, writing books and articles. It can be formal or informal. The key is to do something that will help women to not have to face the same struggles you did.

2. Rainmake – Hire a woman! When you look at your team of advisors - accountant, attorney, financial planner - are they women? When you go to make any type of purchase, stop and think if there is a woman you know and trust who can provide that quality service or product. Refer these same women when someone asks you for a referral.

3. Uncover & Share Information – Begin talking about your business lives. The next time you meet a woman for lunch instead of talking about the kids, husband, parents or any other of the many intimate details of your life, talk about your business life. Learn what is going on in other departments, other companies, in your industry. You need to begin to acquire the big picture in order to become a valued commodity and get promoted.

4. Keep Quiet – When talking to men about other women do not put other women down. It only feeds into already existing stereotypes. When one woman is promoted that is good for you. When she is fired that is bad for you.

5. Unite With All Women at All Times – We all work together. Women you might ordinarily overlook may become your biggest allies. Instead of always looking above, you look below or to either side.

6. Make Team Related Choices – When you are on a team, you no longer look out for only yourself. Play for the team as well as for yourself. You will open more opportunities for both you and the team by supporting and ensuring other women’s successes.

7. Weave a Female Web – We no longer live two lives - business and personal. We live one life in which all parts exist. You would have no problem telling your neighbor about a great new restaurant in town, yet when it comes to “discussing business” with our personal friends, we “shriek” away. Additionally, instead of building “business contacts,” build relationships that include areas of your life that are of mutual interest.

Please forward me your thoughts and ideas on ways to build and support the “Women’s Team” info@starresources.biz or call 704-535-5610. Your ideas will be featured in future articles and at www.starresources.biz