Empowering Women in Business

I’ve seen firsthand how shame can hold women business owners from reaching their full potential. Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s rarely discussed but universally experienced: shame in business and how overcoming it is crucial for empowering women entrepreneurs.

The Hidden Struggle of Women in Business

About a year ago, I had a powerful experience during a VIP strategy day with a new client. This woman, barely a year into her business and juggling two kids under two, looked at me with vulnerability in her eyes and said, “I’m just a baby business. I’m so embarrassed to even show you what I’ve been doing because I’m certain that I’ve been doing it wrong.”

My heart broke a little because I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. And it’s time we talked about it as part of our mission of empowering women in the business world.

Why Shame Hinders Women’s Empowerment in Business

Shame in business is like that annoying relative who shows up uninvited and overstays their welcome. But why does it appear in the first place? Here are a few reasons:

We compare our backstage to everyone else’s highlight reel. In the age of perfectly curated Instagram feeds and “overnight success” stories, it’s easy to fall into the comparison trap. We see other women thriving in business and assume they’ve got it all figured out. News flash: they don’t.
We expect perfection from day one. Somewhere along the line, we got the idea that we should be expert business owners from the moment we print our first business card. But here’s the truth: business skills are learned, not innate. Empowering women means giving ourselves the grace to grow.
We’re afraid of judgment. Like my client, who was terrified I’d judge her finances, we often hide the messy parts of our business. But in doing so, we miss out on the support and solutions we desperately need to truly empower ourselves.

How Shame Sabotages Women’s Empowerment in Business

Shame is more than just an uncomfortable feeling – it’s a silent saboteur that can derail even the most promising women entrepreneurs. As we work towards empowering women in business, it’s crucial to understand how shame operates and the specific ways it undermines our success:

It keeps you playing small: When we’re ashamed of our perceived shortcomings or mistakes, we often retreat into our comfort zones. We might avoid taking risks, pursuing big clients, or launching new products. This self-imposed limitation stunts our growth and prevents us from reaching our full potential as business leaders.
It prevents you from seeking help: Shame often comes with a fear of judgment. We worry that if we ask for help, we’ll be exposed as frauds or incompetents. This isolates us and cuts us off from valuable resources, mentorship, and support networks that are crucial for empowering women in business.
It blinds you to your own progress and achievements: When we’re caught up in shame, we tend to fixate on our failures and overlook our successes. This skewed perspective can lead to imposter syndrome, making it difficult to recognize and celebrate our own growth and accomplishments.
It erodes your decision-making confidence: Shame can make us second-guess every decision, big or small. This hesitation and self-doubt can paralyze us, slowing down our business operations and making us appear less confident to clients and partners.
It stifles innovation and creativity: When we’re afraid of making mistakes or being judged, we’re less likely to think outside the box or try new approaches. This fear of failure can significantly hamper innovation, which is often the lifeblood of successful businesses.
It impacts your personal brand: If you’re constantly apologizing or downplaying your achievements due to shame, it can negatively impact how others perceive you and your business. This can make it harder to build a strong, confident personal brand – a crucial element in empowering women entrepreneurs.

Empowering Women: From Shame to Success

Now that we understand how deeply shame can impact our businesses let’s explore how we can move past it. Empowering women in business isn’t just about providing opportunities – it’s about equipping ourselves with the tools and mindset to seize those opportunities confidently. Here’s a comprehensive plan to help you shift from shame to success.

Embrace the Messy Middle

The journey of entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line. It’s filled with twists, turns, and yes, plenty of messy moments. Embracing this reality is a crucial step in overcoming shame and truly empowering yourself as a woman in business.

Remember, every successful woman entrepreneur you admire started exactly where you are. They made mistakes, they had doubts, and yes, they probably felt shame too. But they pushed through. They understood that these challenges were not signs of failure but necessary steps on the path to success.

As I told my client, “I will never judge you for what you’re doing in your business. I am championing for you. I am cheering you on. Every mistake that could have been made in business, I promise you I have probably made it.”

Embracing the messy middle means:

Accepting that mistakes are part of the learning process
Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth
Celebrating your resilience in the face of obstacles
Recognizing that perfection is not the goal – progress is

Shine a Light on Your Shame

Shame thrives in darkness and silence. The more we hide our perceived shortcomings, the more power they have over us. A critical step in empowering women in business is bringing these hidden fears and insecurities into the light.

Just like my client who was terrified to show me a part of her business, hiding our shame only gives it power. When we bring it into the light, we often find it’s not as scary as we thought.

Here’s how you can start shining a light on your shame:

Identify the areas of your business that you’ve been avoiding or hiding
Share your concerns with a trusted mentor, coach, or peer
Write down your fears and examine them objectively
Seek feedback on the areas you’re most insecure about – you might be surprised by the response

Seek Support and Expertise

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. In fact, trying to do so can often hold you back from truly empowering yourself in business. Seeking support and expertise is not a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic move savvy businesswomen make to accelerate their growth and success.

Whether it’s a coach, a consultant, or a supportive community of fellow women entrepreneurs, surround yourself with people who can offer guidance, share experiences, and empower you to succeed. Here’s how to effectively seek support and expertise:

Join networking groups: Look for local or online communities of women entrepreneurs. These groups often provide invaluable peer support, advice, and potential collaboration opportunities. My Leading Ladies Facebook group is a great place to start!
Find a mentor: Seek out a more experienced entrepreneur in your field who can provide guidance and share their lessons learned. A good mentor can help you navigate challenges and avoid common pitfalls.
Invest in coaching: A business coach can provide personalized strategies, accountability, and support tailored to your specific needs and goals. Even I have a business coach!
Attend workshops and conferences: These events are great opportunities to learn new skills, stay updated on industry trends, and connect with other women in business. Take advantage of the Leading Ladies Leadership Series to get started with this.
Leverage online resources: Take advantage of webinars, podcasts, and online courses to continually expand your knowledge and skills.
Build a support team: Consider hiring professionals like accountants, lawyers, graphic designers, and web designers to strengthen areas where you lack expertise.

Remember, asking for help is not admitting defeat – it’s a strategic move to empower yourself and your business. As one of my clients once said, “I realized that trying to do everything myself wasn’t making me a better entrepreneur – it was just making me a tired one.”

Celebrate Your Courage

Starting and running a business is brave, hard work. In our rush to achieve the next goal or overcome the next challenge, we often forget to acknowledge the courage it takes to simply show up every day as an entrepreneur. Taking time to celebrate your courage is a powerful way to build confidence and combat shame.

As I often remind my clients, “Please don’t ever be embarrassed or ashamed of what you have done so far. You are new in this, and you really should just celebrate that you took those brave steps.”

Here are some ways to celebrate your courage and reinforce your journey of empowerment:

Keep a “win” journal: Write down your achievements, big and small, every day. This creates a tangible record of your progress and courage.
Share your story: Don’t be afraid to tell others about your entrepreneurial journey. Your story could inspire other women to take the leap into business ownership.
Acknowledge your growth: Regularly reflect on how far you’ve come. Compare where you are now to where you started, not to where you think you “should” be.
Reward yourself: Set milestones in your business and plan rewards for when you reach them. This could be as simple as a nice dinner out or as big as a vacation.
Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a good friend facing similar challenges.
Celebrate the lessons: Even when things don’t go as planned, celebrate the courage it took to try and the lessons you learned in the process.

One of my clients put it beautifully: “I used to beat myself up for every misstep. Now, I see each challenge as a badge of honor. It means I’m out there, trying, growing, and that’s something to be proud of.”

Remember, every day that you show up for your business is an act of courage. By celebrating this courage, you’re not just empowering yourself – you’re setting an example that empowers other women in business, too.

Your Empowerment Challenge

This week, I challenge you to take one area of your business that you’ve been ashamed of and bring it into the light. Maybe that means finally looking at your finances, or admitting you need help with your marketing strategy.

Whatever it is, remember: facing it is the first step to fixing it. And with each step, you empower yourself and other women around you.

Have you struggled with shame in your business journey? How did you overcome it and empower yourself to move forward? Share your experiences in the Leading Ladies Facebook group. Let’s start a conversation and support each other in empowering women in business for good!

Remember, you’re doing brave, hard things every single day. Be proud of that, messy parts and all. Your journey is uniquely yours, and that’s something to celebrate.

Join the Leading Lady Community

For more insights and strategies on empowering women in business, I invite you to join my community:

Tune into the Leading Lady Podcast.
Connect with me on Instagram.
Join the conversation in the Leading Ladies Facebook Group.

Empowering Women in Business: Overcoming Shame and Embracing Your Entrepreneurial Journey