Member Article

6 Steps to Cultivating the Positive Mindset for Success For Women in Business

Women face unique challenges in the business world. In this article, I share the insights I gained from ten professional women working in the wellbeing sector and their top tips for creating a positive mindset.

Juggling multiple responsibilities, dealing with frequent setbacks, and questioning their abilities are part of women’s daily struggles. “The intensity of often-conflicting demands can feel overwhelming,” says Psychotherapist, Cathy Conan. The reasons why women may need help with mindset and providing actionable strategies to develop a positive attitude can result in feeling unfulfilled professionally and personally with a disconnection to their priorities.

“Women may feel they’ve lost their way in life, as if they’ve lost their sense of self and direction and are struggling with internal conflict. They don’t know where to start because a disconnection from who we really are limits true potential and ultimately impacts wellbeing and quality of life,” adds Clare Hopkins, a Mental Health and Wellbeing Coach.

Nurturing Emotional Wellbeing

A positive mindset is a powerful tool that can empower women to overcome obstacles, unlock their full potential, and achieve remarkable success. When navigating the complexities of balancing personal and professional lives, women often experience a sense of exhaustion. However, by prioritising self-care, practising mindfulness, and setting boundaries, women can proactively nurture their emotional wellbeing and establish a strong foundation where a positive mindset can reside. “Taking the step to enter the business world can bring many psychological challenges. How we think, feel, and behave can hinder our progress and success as business owners. We need to look at the psychological barriers that may stop women from reaching their full potential and ways to mitigate their impact,” says Chartered Clinical Psychologist Dr Hayley Poole.

Breaking Free from Societal Expectations

Women need to ask themselves who they are beyond the roles they fulfil in their life. “Whilst these roles can provide meaning and purpose, we’re not meant to derive our sense of self from others. When we prioritise others’ needs, we trade their validation for our authenticity,” explains Clare Hopkins. This statement highlights the importance of women understanding and embracing their identities beyond societal expectations and the confinement of predefined societal roles. The pressure to conform to gender norms can cause women to lose sight of themselves, their passions and their purpose in life. By embracing authenticity and challenging these norms, women can rediscover their true identities, which will help them cultivate a positive mindset that propels them towards their definition of success.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome can plague women in business, causing self-doubt and a fear of being exposed as inadequate. Overcoming this mindset requires acknowledging achievements, reframing self-perception, and seeking support from mentors and peers. By celebrating their successes and embracing their unique talents, women can build a positive mindset that empowers them to overcome challenges. “Deep at your core is a sense of who you truly are, but growing up, you might have buried your true identity and passions because of family rules, parenting styles, trauma and dysfunction,” says Therapist and Coach Elizabeth Platt. According to Elizabeth, hypnotherapy offers a positive and science-backed solution to overcome the challenges of adult life stresses. When negative thoughts, behaviour patterns, anxiety, overwhelm, sabotage, poor health, phobias, relationship problems, and low self-worth weigh us down, strategic hypnosis becomes a powerful tool. It harnesses the power of thinking, feeling, and imagination to facilitate personal growth, enabling individuals to unlock their full potential and perform at their peak.

Building Resilience

Recognising personal worth and building resilience go hand in hand. This resilience and a positive mindset pave the way for success in their entrepreneurial journey. However, women often encounter gender biases and limited opportunities in the business world. Nishi Mehta, a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, quizzes, “Can you succeed as a female entrepreneur without knowing your personal worth?” Only by valuing themselves, seeking personal growth, and surrounding themselves with a supportive network can women develop the resilience necessary to face obstacles head-on. According to Jacqui Jagger, a Mindset and Leadership Coach, recognising the intrinsic value that lies within you and understanding that your worth extends far beyond monetary measurements is the first step to boosting self-worth. By reframing your perspective and embracing a broader definition of value, you can conquer any fears or anxieties surrounding money. This simple but powerful shift in mindset allows you to see money as a tool for empowerment and growth, unlocking the potential for financial abundance and prosperity in your life. She says, “Taming your mind monkeys starts with understanding why they are there and when and how they will show up. When you know what’s going on, and you can anticipate the tactics the mind monkeys will use, and you can tame their impact and magnify yours.”

Embracing a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is crucial for all entrepreneurs to thrive in the ever-changing business landscape. Embracing a growth mindset involves incorporating powerful strategies to manage everyday stress and harness the transformative power of visualisation. “Chronic stress is erosive, physically, emotionally, and mentally. Recognising how the stress response manifests for you and having an easy technique to control it helps you feel calm and in control. Your day will be easier,” says Holistic Practitioner Liz Paolone.

Additionally, visualisation plays a vital role in personally and professionally empowering us. By utilising the art of visualisation, women can bring their dreams to life and gain the focus needed to turn them into reality. This technique, used during meditation and creating vivid mental images, can stimulate the subconscious mind, reinforce positive beliefs, and create a mental blueprint for success. It is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Miranda Khilstrom, a Wellness Coach, reminds us, “The art of visualisation can bring dreams to life and give you the focus to allow dreams to become a reality.” Miranda’s mantra is that the ‘body achieves what the mind believes.’

Maximising Brain Health

Women’s achievements and strengths at all ages are celebrated at the Socially Shared Women in Business Conferences. Therefore, it is crucial not to forget the impact of menopause on some of the attendees’ lives. The changes during this phase can present additional challenges, including potential effects on brain function. Women’s bodies are intricately connected, and what they eat can significantly influence the health and function of the brain. By prioritising brain health through mindful nutritional choices, women can reduce the risk of conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, brain fog, memory loss, and migraines. “However, with our modern lifestyle, it’s easy for these processes to be affected by nutritional choices, especially as we age. The brain controls decision-making, memory, attention span, language and multitasking, and we thrive when these processes are in great shape. Let’s take care of our brain health!” is the conclusion of Nutritionist Lily Samuels.

Women in the business world can overcome their unique challenges by cultivating a positive mindset that empowers them to navigate and conquer obstacles. By prioritising emotional and physical wellbeing and breaking free from societal expectations, women can lay the foundation for personal and professional growth. Building resilience and embracing a growth mindset is essential to thriving within the competitive business landscape. Empowered women and girls become agents of change, driving innovation, leadership, and sustainable development. They inspire future generations, challenging gender stereotypes and dismantling societal norms.

Suppose you are a woman passionate about addressing local and global issues affecting women. In that case, there is an opportunity to press for positive change on various levels, including the United Nations, stresses Dishi Atwood, Director of Membership and Development at Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland. You can make a meaningful difference by joining forces with like-minded women, whether in virtual or face-to-face settings. This opportunity is open to women residing and working in the UK and Ireland. The time to harness a positive mindset and make a difference is now, and your contribution can genuinely impact the lives of women and girls globally.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Abbi Hoxleigh .