By Fabian Hullen
July 2017
Working in environment where you are the only male figure is a challenge in it’s own right. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked, “How do you do it?” or, I’ve been told, “Props to you to be able to work as the only man”.
I have a secret though, it’s not nearly as hard as it is made out to be. True it’s a challenge, but who said that challenge is a negative thing. Working with women as my first job has taught me more than what I could have ever imagined. There is a level of compassion and cooperation that most people would struggle to achieve. However you need to understand that there is a level of “give and take” that goes into it as well, you can’t expect to work in a happy cooperatives environment if you are not prepared to compromise.
I have discovered that building the below skills go a long way to easing my workday.
- Time management – there is no time other than now, use it wisely.
- Work ethics – a job is not done, until all its related aspects are considered.
- Independence – there are times when getting on and making sure something is done is a one man job.
- Value of time (as in enjoying the little things) – a workplace is about relationships and taking time to have fun makes a huge difference.
- Perspective – how you think about something can change a bad experience/information etc. into a good thing, all it takes is a willingness to consider things in a different light.
If you are not ready to commit yourself to the task of getting along in the workplace it will be hard, however if you do commit it will only be a challenge, and challenges can be overcome.