The confidence to fail by Jo Dench-Owens

It has been nearly a year of our SHE Plymouth project. What a journey we've been on. We've learned a lot. But what does it take to support a woman to succeed in business?

​During the year, we have had face-to-face meetings with nearly 70 of the 120 women who have signed up for personal and bespoke business support through the programme.
 
That doesn’t include the attendees of our workshops, networking events, or working groups. Our engagement rate is high, and we thought we’d look at what it is we’re doing that connects with so many women – and what we’ve learnt from our remarkable bunch of women we call our ‘SHE-las’.
 
What makes the SHE project attractive to the women entrepreneurs of Plymouth?
 
Reassuringly, it has been easy to spread the news about the SHE-Plymouth project.  Our work is being shared through word-of-mouth, via other organisations, and by local social connections. SHE is gaining a reputation for providing an alternative approach to business advice. Rather than a prescriptive service, (i.e. telling people what we think they should learn) we are offering a more bespoke approach.
 
First and foremost, we listen! Without judgement, we allow our women to tell us their goals and what challenges hinder them from achieving these aspirations. Every woman has different circumstances. They may have to juggle a family and can only connect on social media after bedtimes. Networking in the evening might be a complete no-go due to other commitments, and therefore they thrive at early afternoon events. Sometimes our women are juggling more than one part time job to ensure that they have the financial resources to embark on a new enterprise.
 
What is getting in the way of our SHE-las achieving their dreams?
 
It is rare to find a woman who doesn’t have other priorities. This complex work-life balance can go against traditional viewpoints on what makes a successful entrepreneur. Our job is to find a way to help them achieve their dreams, despite those challenges. Reduce their social isolation, boost their productivity, and increase their economic activity without detriment to their overall well-being.
 
Despite having the tools and talent to succeed, there are invisible barriers to taking that first, or next, step. Of course, economic challenges are one factor. But a harder barrier to overcome is confidence. Which feels like an institutionally gender specific problem.
 
One of the primary factors contributing to the confidence gap between genders is societal conditioning. Every woman will have a story of when everyday sexism was first introduced into their lives. It is often astonishingly early. Be it in the home, at school, or through media and society. We’ve all heard that girls are supposed to be “sugar and spice and all things nice”. As a result, women entering the business world may bring a hesitancy to assert themselves, negotiate, or pursue ambitious goals.
 
At the very heart of doubt, is the fear of failure. To do business, there is always an element of risk. But what are we risking? Financial investment? Our time? Our mental well-being? Upsetting our loved ones? It is a case of balancing these to see realistically, what is the worst that could happen. How do we spread the risk, embrace uncertainty, and protect ourselves should we fail? Women must be allowed to accept that failure is not shameful, but rather a testament to their courage to try in the first place.
 
In our sessions the question I ask most often, is: ‘You have the skills, the talents, and the means…so why aren’t you doing it yet?’ And the answer is usually that they needed someone to tell them they could. To ease the fear and doubt, and that it is ok to want something more for themselves.
   
Well behaved women seldom make history
 
As women, we have an inbuilt fear of being judged. Our appearance. Our behaviour. Our intelligence and parenting skills. SHE-Plymouth strives to give a platform for women to explore creative (and socially enterprising) ideas, with space to see how to effectively change the business landscape and make it more accommodating to all, equally.
 
So, what else can SHE do?
 
We provide practical and knowledgeable training and resources. Through online courses and workshops, we share our experience and skills. But we also help women let go of the fear. Their business may mean making a substantial change to family life. Our women must give themselves permission to put their hopes and career above their partners, sometimes for the first time in their lives. In most cases, women are responsible for the mental load of running a home, alongside the lion’s share of household chores. Men, however, are regularly facilitated to follow their professional dreams. 
 
For a woman to make that change, means that the rest of the family may have to do more. Can society learn to support this shift within a household? The knowledge and confidence we give to our SHE-las help them to take the leap.
 
We also offer workshops that provide a space for childcare. We schedule relaxed friendly advice sessions over coffee, where you can bring along your toddler. Our networking focusses on connecting like-minded women who lift one another up. We host casual social events (no suits!) where we chat through ideas and share experiences. We are building a new framework within which our businesses can thrive.
 
In the workplace specifically, a significant contributor to the confidence gap is the lack of representation at leadership levels. When women don't see others who look like them, they may struggle to envision themselves in similar roles. Society can play a crucial role in fostering diversity by promoting gender equality in leadership positions and in business start-ups. Which is exactly why Iridescent Ideas identified the necessity for a gender-specific business advice programme. We have business minded women - Mel and Jo - leading the SHE project by example, as well as an extraordinary ally in Gareth who understands that equity among the genders benefits society as a whole.
 
After all, addressing the confidence gap in business requires a comprehensive and versatile approach from everyone. By dismantling gender stereotypes, promoting diversity in leadership and entrepreneurship, and implementing supportive workplace policies, we can create an environment that empowers women to contribute meaningfully to the business world.
 
As we strive for equality, it is crucial to recognize that building confidence is not just an individual endeavour but a societal responsibility that requires collective action and commitment. If you have a business minded woman in your life who is exploring the possibility of going out on her own, lift her up, encourage her – be her cheerleader! In doing so we will all benefit.
 
So what have we learnt from our SHE-las?
 
Plymouth is full of super-heroes. The number of talented, kind, and compassionate women in one small corner of the UK is astonishing. They all have the ability to achieve great things. All they need is a nudge in the right direction and someone to tell them they can.