Vulnerability Is a Super Power

We’re all too familiar with the main conversation in the construction world right now – the existing labor shortage and how it is only going to get worse in the coming years as the Baby Boomers retire, and the Gen Xer’s and beyond are looking for alternatives to manual labor.

Another part of this conversation is that the construction industry is missing out on more than 50% of the population by not (yet) fully welcoming women and other minority groups. At this rate, we are not in a position to be losing any people that do come into the industry, especially women. So why are women leaving the construction industry and what can we do about it?

I have had hundreds of conversations with women in various relationships with the construction industry. Some are in, some were in and are now out, some are halfway out. Almost unanimously, the top reasons women gave for either leaving the industry or considering leaving the industry are:

Family obligations

Family obligation challenges start even before the kids come, as women are often hesitant to start families knowing that it could threaten: their ability to do the work, their options for growth and advancement in their career, keeping their job or being welcomed back after leave. I know all of these were considerations for me when I was starting a family. When you’re with the right employer, none of these will be an issue.

To add to that, the woman is typically the primary caregiver and childcare options are not available to accommodate the construction schedule. Not to mention the guilt women feel if they do have to take time off for family matters. Women who have been able to work around these issues most often have the support of extended family. The others reluctantly leave.

Toxic environments

Toxic environments have been one of the most devastating experiences for women in the construction industry. Women have told me that they have had no hope that it would be different anywhere else and were looking forward to switching industries entirely. This is completely avoidable with good leadership and an interest to support women in the industry.

Overlooked for advancement & lack of opportunities

Being overlooked for advancement and lack of opportunity are interesting challenges because they are not always intentional. However, it always feels obvious and intentional to the one experiencing it. This can lead to frustration, a lack of engagement at work, and a pattern of employer hopping. One question to ask yourself if this does keep happening is, “What can I do to strengthen my skills and put me in a better position to advance?”

It breaks my heart to see so many women struggle to know what to do. Most often these women do not want to leave. They love the work, but they often feel as though their hands are tied and they don’t have a choice. The biggest challenge presented by the three conditions discussed is that women lose confidence and their voice to advocate for themselves.

So, what do we do?

I believe the first priority is taking control of your condition and addressing the confidence issue. The thing is, if you don’t manage the thoughts running around in your head, beating you down, that will travel with you wherever you go and whatever you do. This will sabotage your efforts for growth and advancement in your career. Low confidence opens the door for imposter syndrome, which is especially prevalent among women in male-dominated industries. This only further erodes confidence.

To build your confidence, I have a few recommendations. The first is the book “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown where she discusses the power of being vulnerable. I recommend this book because I know from my own experience and from talking to many, many other women in the construction industry that being vulnerable is about the last thing they would want to do. However, I argue that when you allow yourself to be vulnerable, that is the point where you take control of your power and you no longer have anything to fear. Vulnerability is actually a superpower.

The second is a podcast called “Unf*ck Your Brain” with Kara Loewentheil. Kara speaks on boosting self-confidence, overcoming self-doubt, managing your critical self-talk and much more. The episodes vary in length and average about 30 minutes. Kara breaks down the issues clearly and helps you to understand what’s going on and offers solutions.

Finally, I offer a workshop called Unleashing Your Inner Confidence for Women in Construction. In this two-hour workshop we discuss what confidence looks like, the factors that influence it, how to nurture your confidence and strategies for boosting confidence. The women leave with a greater understanding of what is happening when our confidence is high or low, tasks and tools to put in place to strengthen confidence daily.

About the author: Coralee Beatty is a serial entrepreneur that included a successful exit from a multi-seven-figure construction business. She now coaches other women business owners in construction and trades. Visit her website at https://www.thrivehq.ca/