Five Obstacles for Entrepreneurial Women to Overcome

Anyone starting out in business should be aware of the challenges ahead, and entrepreneurial women may have to deal with issues and difficulties that men in business do not have to face. These additional hurdles, which present a real challenge to many women when starting out in business, can be overcome by understanding the underlying causes and determining the right approach to take:

1. Being competitive.

When starting out in business, almost every entrepreneur will have some moments of self-doubt, but men can be more aggressively competitive while women are inclined to worry about building good relationships and gaining approval. Some women entrepreneurs feel that they will have to act more like a man if they are to be competitive. However, this is not the best way to deal with competition.

You will succeed more as an entrepreneurial woman by being yourself. When you have put so much of yourself into starting up your own business, you can be confident about dealing with competition, knowing it is your hard work and personal commitment that will put you ahead of your rivals.

2. Being unused to self-promotion.

Men usually feel more comfortable than women about self-promotion. Women tend not to brag about their accomplishments and are more likely to focus on the needs of others. A woman in business can therefore find it more difficult to ‘big-up’ her own achievements, skills and personal qualities.

Women who want to be entrepreneurs should not let this create an obstacle to success. Self-promotion is important in business. It means that you have to draw attention to what you are capable of and how much you have already achieved.

3. Balancing business with family life.

Many prominent women in business are also mothers, but trying to get the right balance between the two roles can be very stressful. Pregnancy, childcare and cultural pressures can affect women entrepreneurs to a great extent and create conflicts that most men do not experience.

Technology is a great help in finding ways to achieve a better balance between being a good mother and a top business person. For example, using a HR software system for your business will take off some of the pressure by giving give you more time to deal with other things.

4. Having fewer networking opportunities.

Traditionally men have made business deals through networking and have been able to take advantage of exclusive memberships, some of which are not open to women. Unfortunately the advantages that come from being ‘in the club’ or ‘one of the old boys’ still exist.

Technology has made it less difficult for women to build business connections, to demonstrate strong leadership and to collaborate with others. Important networking events are promoted online and business connections can be strengthened through social media. Support is available through Internet forums for female entrepreneurs and in female-focused business groups.

5. Facing discrimination based on gender.

Gender discrimination is less widespread than it was in the past, but some sex discrimination continues in less obvious ways and presents a real challenge for female entrepreneurs. Sadly, it is still the case that some people will take you less seriously when you are a woman pitching for business or trying to attract investors.

The best way to deal with this type of discrimination is by facing up to the competition, becoming more comfortable with self-promotion, balancing your family life with your commitment to business and making the most of new networking opportunities for entrepreneurial women.

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