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Seven Hidden Woes of Women: How to help with the unspoken struggles

For professional women and/or managers of professional women, understanding the secret issues facing working women is the first step in helping to solve them. Kathy Caprino conducted a yearlong national study with the Esteemed Woman Foundation to find out what issues bother women most. In her businessknowhow.com article, “Breakdown, Breakthrough,” the author shares 12 of the work-life crises women may be going through and not talking about, including:

1. Chronic health problems.

2. Inability to speak up for fear of criticism, rejection or punishment.

3. Workplace abuse or mistreatment.

4. Financial helplessness.

5. Feelings of wasted talent.

6. Juggling the balance of work and life.

7. Staying at a job they hate.

While professional women may have a different set of problems than their male counterparts, managers of either sex can encourage them to face their problems, by:

• Listening to their bodies. Aches, pains, illnesses and mood swings are ways our body communicates to us. It’s important to pay attention.

• Listen to intuition.

• Speak up.

• Accept themselves as good enough. “Many women strive, even slave, to be the best — driving themselves crazy in the process,” Caprino says.

• Be realistic about money.

• Stop making excuses.

• Accept support from other people.

• Find a role model.

“Finally, relax! It’s not all up to you,” Caprino writes.