Do You Think Like a Woman?
by Amy Impellizzeri
Do men have the corner on business savvy and success? Do you have to, as some would suggest, think “like a man” to get ahead in business?
In ForbesWoman this month, trading psychology coach Doug Hirschhorn suggests just the opposite - that in fact, thinking like a “woman” can be a powerful tool and an advantage in business.
In fact, putting aside the obvious over-generalizations, there may indeed be some value in Hirshhorn’s observations that women, more so than men, have three common traits that make them formidable business leaders, namely: 1) the ability to set aside pride in making decisions, 2) self-awareness, and 2) reliance on reflection rather than reaction.
It is not hard to find famous and successful women that seem to bear out Hirschhorn’s argument. Coco Chanel (included in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century), created a fashion empire brand and legacy, by first replacing corseted fashion in the 1920’s with comfortable elegance - thinking like a woman indeed!
She is reported to have swallowed her pride in the 1950’s in order to ask a former business nemesis for financing to return to the fashion stage after a long hiatus. (She returned to work at age 70 – talk about self-awareness!) And in an interesting study in reflection - Chanel responded to the meteoric rise of couture competitor, Christian Dior, not with a kneejerk couture line, but rather with a thoughtful response – including an iconic golden-chained quilted bag – that continues to be in haute style over fifty years later.
Another iconic business woman, Oprah Winfrey, is a self-proclaimed avid diarist since the age of 15 – (self-awareness, check!) A well-known example of reflection and thoughtful business strategy (James Frey controversy aside – but a belated apology from Winfrey evidenced her ability to put pride aside), Winfrey makes another compelling example for the potential success of “thinking like a woman.”
While it’s clear that Hirschhorn’s highlighted traits are neither universal to all women, nor are they unique to women alone – it is worth asking the question –
Do You Think Like a Woman?
[For the entire article, check out Hirschhorn’s Think Like a Woman and Make More Money.]