Advice to Women Managers
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.
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. Know how to use computers.
If you don’t know how to use a computer, you’re looking for trouble. People don’t get hired in our organization if they don’t know how to use a computer or unless they learn very quickly.
This is not some dream of the future. Our corporation already has virtual office all over and they are working out great.
With the advent of the interactive computer technology, the workplace is going to change incredibly. And this will be a great boom to women. Working in a virtual office at home will allow women to deal more flexibly with the demands of having children and also cut out commuting time so they’ll have more time to spend with their families.
With interactive technology, managers will be able to monitor their employees working at home just as easily, in fact more easily, through their computers. There will be just as much personal contact with employees, but there won’t be as many interruptions. There is simply a lot of work I cannot get done in the office because of the constant interruptions. I need to spend time quietly for certain jobs, such as writing letters, which I end up doing at home.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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!
