It never ceases to amaze me how the financial industry is desperate to hire women. They recognize the value women bring to the industry and their ability to develop stronger client relationships, but they MUST take the handcuffs off!
How are women ever going to succeed in achieving their true potential when firms keep boxing them in!
Think about it; men built everything about this business to help male advisors attract male clients. While there is nothing wrong with men, what works for them is not what is best for women.
Women approach EVERYTHING differently than men, and our brains are different, not better, not worse, different. It is not about competition; it’s about creating an environment that brings out the BEST in both genders. To force these amazing women into a business model designed for men is LUDICROUS.
These women are not dealing with a glass ceiling. They are living in a concrete box and trying to fly. There are some simple yet extraordinary ways to help support women in their desire to be the best they can be in all aspects of their lives which ultimately makes them more successful at work:
- Allow them to use more authentic language to present who they are and what they do and share their personal message and story in PRINT. The typical industry verbiage, allowable messaging, and text for brochures are stale and too rigid for women. You are forcing these women to adapt to what works in a hunt and kill world; that is NOT the world of women.
- Give them a warm color pallet at work, one they LOVE to use in their marketing materials and website. Even the fonts need to change. Softer hues, pastels, and turquoise are essential to women and are way more attractive to female clients.
- Provide seminars and webinars that are more engaging and more focused on the softer challenges women and couples face. ELIMINATE the statistics, charts, and graphs which are typically hard to understand whether you are speaking to men or women, and quite frankly, it is SO old school. Keep the PowerPoint slides to a minimum, and they should enhance what you are saying, not SAY what you are saying, which is BORING.
- Create a safe environment where the women can connect, share ideas, and get the support and inspiration they want. Do not just focus on the numbers, goals, or accountability. Women’s priority is knowing they are making an impact and sharing with other women. Women love collaborating in safe communities.
Remember, while women have had to become warriors to make it in a male-dominated industry, they are not warriors by nature. Create an environment where women feel free to build an extraordinary practice based on their vision of success. Allow women the freedom to present who they are and genuinely want to help based on their true nature and personality.
I’m calling on the industry to give women the autonomy to design their schedule to feel good as a mother, wife, woman; this alone keeps them energized and oh so loyal.
Your next keynote should be a great mix of fun, inspiration & practical tools for women advisors-schedule Adri for your next event, in-person or virtual. Your audience will thank you!
