| Natural-born Recession Busters: Nine Reasons Why | | | | customers-while also helping those within the company |
| Women Are Faring Better Than Men in the Down | | | | learn and grow are much-desired skills. Because |
| Economy | | | | women tend to be more empathetic than men, building |
| Some statistics are showing that the recent recession | | | | these strong relationships often comes easier to them. |
| has been harder on men than women. Author | | | | They can tap into a caring nature more easily than |
| Roxanne Rivera explains why she thinks women | | | | men, which helps them relate to clients and employees |
| might be better at busting through the recession than | | | | who are struggling during this recession. |
| men. | | | | "Women often are better than men at all these tasks," |
| The recession has made 2009 a difficult year for | | | | says Rivera. "In fact, I would argue that a woman's |
| many Americans. But has it affected men more | | | | ability to empathize and use her instincts provides her |
| negatively than women? Recent statistics from the | | | | with significant advantages during the recession. They |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics might indicate as much. The | | | | can use these qualities to forge alliances with and |
| BLS recently released statistics showing that 78 | | | | strengthen their customer base. They can strengthen |
| percent of jobs lost during the recession were held by | | | | their relationships with their banker, their CPA, etc. |
| men, and that women's wages have risen by 1.2 | | | | Relationships are key right now. And women have |
| percent more than men's over the past two years. | | | | adjusted to using their innate qualities to build and |
| These numbers have some calling the recent | | | | nurture these working relationships when it matters |
| recession a "he-cession," while others point out that | | | | most." |
| these numbers could be interpreted in a variety of | | | | Women have always been the underdog. In 2008, |
| ways. For example, more jobs may have been lost by | | | | according to the BLS, women earned a median |
| men because many of the jobs that have been cut | | | | weekly salary that was 80 percent of what men |
| were in the manufacturing and construction industries. | | | | earned. And while this pay inequality may be one |
| And women's wages may have risen at a faster rate, | | | | reason that women have lost their jobs at a slower |
| but most women are still making less than the men | | | | rate than men during the recession, it also gives them |
| doing the same jobs as them. | | | | a kind of underdog status. Women are used to having |
| But Roxanne Rivera says that if, indeed, the recession | | | | to fight for what they deserve-inside and outside the |
| is a "he-cession," the true indicators are not the | | | | workplace. |
| numbers themselves but how well women have | | | | "Our position as the underdog helps us in other ways," |
| adjusted to the challenges presented by the down | | | | says Rivera. "We tend to be able to improvise and |
| economy. | | | | change plans on a dime when we see that something |
| "I don't know if you can say to any degree of certainty | | | | isn't working. Women are very resourceful. If one path |
| that either gender has done better or worse than the | | | | doesn't work out, we correct and take another. These |
| other during the recession," says Rivera, author of the | | | | qualities are essential when trying to adjust work and |
| new book There's No Crying in Business: How | | | | home lives to the recession." |
| Women Can Succeed in Male-Dominated Industries | | | | Women are not afraid to tighten their belts. For |
| (Palgrave Macmillan, December 2009, | | | | companies the recession means reduced spending, |
| ISBN:023061812X). "But I have been so proud to see | | | | and that can sometimes translate to pay cuts and |
| so many women I know and to read about so many | | | | benefit cuts for employees. Practices that tend to |
| women who've taken the bull by the horns during the | | | | affect men more negatively (at least in an emotional |
| recession. In my opinion at least, women have adapted | | | | sense) than women. |
| to this very undesirable situation better than men." | | | | "I don't know if this is built into our DNA, but to me it |
| Why might that be? Rivera points to a number of | | | | seems that women, in general, are not afraid to cut |
| inherent qualities that may make women better suited | | | | back and tighten our belts," says Rivera. "Maybe it's |
| to handle the challenges of the recession: | | | | because we are used to managing the household |
| Women are used to stress. The reason women might | | | | budget or shopping on a shoestring, but we can |
| be better at handling the stress that comes with the | | | | stretch a dime if we have to. Women do what needs |
| recession better than men is two-fold. First, many | | | | to be done to get the job done-whether that means |
| women, regardless of industry, work in "boys' | | | | taking a pay cut or reducing how much is spent on |
| club"-type environments. They are used to dealing with | | | | groceries each week." |
| the added stress that comes with feeling like they | | | | Women lead by consensus. Women are very good at |
| have to constantly be working at a higher level than | | | | delegating and managing teams. They use their |
| the men at their organizations. Secondly, women are | | | | emotional intelligence to motivate their employees and |
| used to multi-tasking. They know that their success is | | | | encourage teamwork when it matters most. |
| measured by others based on how well they juggle | | | | "Where men might take on an 'every man for himself' |
| their work and home lives. | | | | mentality during the recession, women will use their |
| "Most women have learned how to deal with the | | | | ability to lead by consensus to provide value to their |
| stress that these scenarios create," says Rivera. "For | | | | organizations," says Rivera. "They involve their people |
| example, women aren't afraid to express their | | | | in finding ways to cut costs, constantly remind them |
| emotions, either through a one-on-one pep talk with a | | | | that they are important-a necessity when companies |
| friend or through a private cry. They are able to get | | | | cannot offer raises or other rewards-and, in general, |
| their emotions out, find solutions, and move on. And | | | | just try to be part of the solution. |
| while men might not necessarily be less emotional than | | | | "Because they are used to taking on many different |
| women, there is a stigma that exists with men who | | | | tasks in order to prove themselves, women-even |
| show their emotions. Because of that stigma, many | | | | those in leadership roles-are not afraid to help with the |
| men keep their emotions hidden and as a result can't | | | | grunt work. They stay late when their people have to |
| handle the recession stress quite as well as their | | | | stay late, and so on. By assuming these responsibilities, |
| female counterparts." | | | | women can better manage the morale of their teams, |
| Women are not defined solely by their jobs. Men are | | | | a factor that helps keep their employees motivated |
| ego-driven. They tend to measure their self-worth by | | | | and working hard to get their companies through the |
| how much money they are making, their ability to | | | | recession." |
| provide for their families, and their position at work. | | | | Women are not afraid to seek out advice. It might be |
| Women, however, define themselves by their | | | | a stereotype, but the idea that men won't stop and |
| relationships inside and outside work. They take into | | | | ask for directions when they are lost holds true during |
| account the kind of work they are doing and how they | | | | a recession. Women simply seem more willing to seek |
| are helping others. Because of this, women aren't | | | | out advice during these economic hard times. |
| taking as big of a hit to the ego as men, which is | | | | |
| helping them keep their heads up during the recession. | | | | |
| "Though the dynamic is balancing out, for the most | | | | "Maybe it's because women are so used to turning to |
| part, women are running America's households," says | | | | one another for support or maybe it's because they |
| Rivera. "At the end of their work day, they also have | | | | simply know that they will need the advice of others to |
| to make sure everyone is where they are supposed | | | | get ahead in a 'man's' world, but by and large, women |
| to be, that dinner is on the table, that the bills are paid, | | | | are not reluctant to seek out advice," says Rivera. |
| and on and on. It is easier for them to assume a 'life | | | | "Women are collaborative. They are more willing to |
| goes on' mentality, because they have all of these | | | | take a let's-get-through-this-together mentality than |
| other factors to deal with. Men, on the other hand, | | | | men might be. They don't look at needing help as a |
| because they generally aren't worrying about all of | | | | sign of weakness, as many men might. They look at it |
| these other factors at home, can get bogged down in | | | | as an opportunity to improve." |
| the negatives they have to deal with at work." | | | | Women know how to build the bench.Women make |
| Women build strong support networks. Throughout | | | | great mentors. They know how important it is to invest |
| history, women have had to unite in order to gain equal | | | | in others, especially during a down economy. "Women |
| footing with men both inside and outside the | | | | know that investing in their employees or direct reports |
| workplace. Because of this history, there are many | | | | does not mean paying them more or promising big |
| networks and women's associations already in | | | | bonuses in the future," says Rivera. "It means giving |
| existence, places women know they can go for | | | | them the support they need, helping them find pride in |
| support and advice. | | | | their work, and giving them positive feedback and |
| "Women have well-organized associations and other | | | | encouragement. All of these elements come together |
| groups because we have to," says Rivera. "It provides | | | | to help women build a strong bench-a team that is |
| the strength in numbers we need to ensure we keep | | | | motivated to get the job done even when it takes |
| making progress toward complete equality. These | | | | more work for less reward. Bottom line: Women make |
| groups have been very beneficial in the recession | | | | great leaders. And that is really shining through during |
| because women know exactly where to go for | | | | the recession." |
| advice and information. Outside of these groups and | | | | "At the end of the day, I think the most important thing |
| associations, women are also great at developing | | | | to take away from this recession is not whether men |
| what I call a 'band of sisters.' We are very effective at | | | | or women have fared better, but the fact that women |
| providing one another with emotional, informational, and | | | | have become an integral part of our economy," says |
| psychological support. Having other women we can | | | | Rivera. "Women now make up almost half of the |
| call on for information, advice, or heart-to-heart | | | | workforce and earn nearly half of the household |
| conversations can be a huge benefit, not only to our | | | | income. And according to the Center for Women's |
| careers but also to our emotional health, especially in | | | | Business Research, women-owned businesses pump |
| stress-enhanced times like the recession." | | | | $3 trillion annually into the economy and employ 23 |
| Women are wired to do business by "relationship." | | | | million people. I can't wait to see how women in all |
| Relationships are of increasing importance to just | | | | industries continue to grow and flourish as the |
| about every company. The ability to forge strong | | | | economy improves. |
| relationships with external stakeholders-suppliers and | | | | |