Advice to Women Managers

Written by Kathy Keeton

1. Don’t fall for the notion of trying to be “one of the boys.”

Those women who do never really make it much further than middle management. It makes men feel uncomfortable seeing a woman behaving in what, to them, is an unnatural way.

2. Act like a woman.

Men and women are very biologically different and we both have strengths and complement each other. Women are good at integrating things. We don’t empire-build; rather we’re the glue that sticks things together and makes them work. After all, that’s our function in the family. We harmonize and when things are in harmony and people are getting along, then progress can be made.

3. Give employees guidelines about what you expect and let them figure out their own way of getting there.

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I think giving people freedom to be creative and to express their abilities, within the objective of the organization and parameters of what you expect to get done, is the best way to get the best work from them.

4. Take charge of your health.

I interview doctors before I go to them and the first question I ask is, ‘How often do you go back for a refresher course?’ If it’s not at least once a year, I don’t go to that doctor. My next question is, ‘Have you ever studied nutrition?’ If the answer is, ‘no,’ I don’t go to that doctor. Always remember that you’re the one who’s paying the bill. You’re the customer and that entitles you to call the tune.

5. Exercise

Exercise is probably the single most important thing for keeping yourself young and keeping up the quality of your life. Exercise makes your body do different things and concentrating on that actually improves your mind. It causes your brain cells to make more connections and, believe it or not, that’s how you keep getting smarter.

6. Believe in yourself.

To me, women defeat themselves when they say, ‘Oh, I could never do that!’ Older women in particular say that. I think they should have the courage to go back to school and the courage to believe that they can do whatever they want to do. Because they can!

Tags: business, Career, Kathy Keeton, leadership, Women, workplace, World

3 Responses to “Advice to Women Managers”

AK says:

September 14, 2010 at 4:30 am

Thanks Kathy, for the wonderful insights. I’m reading it from Malaysia… Wondering if I have some inputs to share with the readers over here… what should I do? Once again, thanks!
geekay says:

September 26, 2011 at 11:41 pm

please give me details of magazine “women as managers” also price
many thanks and kind regards
GK
have a nice day
jpetes says:

September 27, 2011 at 9:46 am

Geekay,

Thank you for your interest in our site. Women as managers is not a printed publication. You may be thinking of Today’s Christian Women which used to be printed but is no longer. I would encourage you to continue looking at articles available on our site for women as you may continue to find what you’re looking for.