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Coaching for women The world of work is experienced differently by men and women. Stereotypes for the behaviour of both sexes at work are plentiful, some with a grain of truth behind them, some without. Women are in the minority in almost all professional settings, and in many industries, despite advances in employment law and social/company culture. This means that whatever level we are at, we are not usually part of the "mainstream" leadership within organisations, and rarely represented by the forces that have shaped corporate culture and expectations over the last 100 years. As a result, some aspects of work can feel like an uphill struggle for women, where no-one quite speaks the same language as us, our power is curtailed and our needs aren't met. Being different can be an advantage, but the shadow side of this special status can be a millstone around our necks, or a glass ceiling above our heads. Women are in the majority in the role of career, whether that is as an employee, for children, friends or relatives, or caring for the home. Nurturing has its own rewards, but can also be draining, frustrating and is not often highly valued by the world around us. For women doing either the professional role or the caring role, life can be challenging; for women doing both, pressure can be overwhelming. We are not "anti-men" (some of our best-friends and partners may be men!) but conflicting and often hidden feelings about being in a "man's world" are common.
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