11/02/2021
Yesterday I posted on my story a repost, choosing to single out one slide that talked about how anxiety can upset your stomach. I joked about how it reminded me of my Macquarie Bank days. But I have decided to open more about this, as I have a bee in my bonnet of late re women in leadership and business. More to come on that later.
For a period of time, as a fairly junior member of my team, I would wake every morning and throw up before getting ready for work. A couple of times, I had to abruptly jump off my bus to throw up or stop myself from being sick. It was, what could only be described as the lowest point in my corporate career. I was being bullied by two senior male managers about my work. Not once did they see how this affected me in the workplace: complete withdrawal, not going for lunch breaks, working early and late- and think to take me aside to coach me. Instead, they continued to criticise, without offering advice or constructive feedback on how I could improve. The problem was definitely with them and not me. But it took years to undo that damage.
I was head hunted and moved to a new company, only to be recruited back to Macquarie, once the main “ring leader” had been pushed out, less than 6 months later. My boss’ boss, a strong female leader and someone who inspired me, told me she had let me down, and many things unfolded before and after this guy left.
This book- Work Like a Woman- has resonated on so many levels and for anyone working in an industry that is predominantly male, or for anyone who wants to know how to be a leader in any context and stay true to themselves, I highly recommend. It is the first female leadership book I have read that talks about how the system is broken, and that we do not need to mould ourselves to fit in to it.
If I knew then what I knew now or had this book, I would have known the issue was with them and not me. I would have known how to speak up. I know I’m also not alone- this keeps happening. Put a 🙌🏼 if you’ve been through this? SWIPE for some key messages!
