Are women in business too aggressive?

Have you ever been told you’re being too aggressive at work?

If you have, as a woman, you’re not alone.

Women are allowed a smaller range of acceptable behaviours at work than men. If we’re too nice, we’re seen as weak. If we’re too opinionated or assertive, we’re viewed as aggressive or hard to deal with.

What does being aggressive mean?

Labeling women as aggressive, and not men, is a bias. It’s also a barrier to women being able to fully contribute in the workplace. It’s essentially a put down because being strong and powerful isn’t typically a trait assigned to women.

But what does being aggressive actually mean?

Ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression.

Often times, this is an unfair descriptor of a woman in a business setting. A woman who’s asserting her opinion confidently.

Choose your words carefully

Our words have power. If you’re in a position of power, take note of the language you use. It can have a serious impact on someone’s career.

If a woman is told to be less assertive or to not speak her mind, then we’re telling her that her opinions aren’t valued. This is how you squash her enthusiasm and drive, not create a future leader.

Why not use enthusiastic, articulate, determined, passionate, confident, or any number of other positive descriptors instead?

Not aggressive enough?

We need more women in business. We need more women in every aspect of society.

At the end of the day, who cares what they call us. Maybe it’s because it’s working and we’re seeing more and more women in leadership roles and as CEOs of companies.