Balancing Act: Thriving as a Woman in a Man's World

Ever have one of those moments where you glance up during a meeting and realize you’re one of the only women in the room? Yeah, me too. It’s like playing a perpetual game of "Where's Waldo?" and spoiler alert: I'm Waldo. There I am, sitting in a sea of navy suits and blue shirts, discussing quarterly projections, all while secretly wondering if my kids remembered to pack their water AND snacks today. (Spoiler alert again: they didn’t.)

Being a woman in a man's world is like wearing heels on cobblestones—possible, but it takes a lot of balance. And somewhere along the way, I realized that thrive at work, I had started leaning heavily into my masculine side. You know the traits: assertiveness, competitiveness, directness, balls of steel. Basically, I turned into the workplace version of "mom mode," but instead of telling people to pick up their socks, I’m telling them to pick up their deadlines.

Masculine Energy at Work: When You’re Channeling Your Inner Drill Sergeant

In my field, being tough is often synonymous with being taken seriously. I’ve learned to speak with authority, keep emotions in check, and toss around buzzwords like “alignment” and “KPIs” like a pro. But here’s the thing: leaning into this masculine energy for so long made me start feeling… out of balance.

The constant striving, doing, and pushing felt like running on a treadmill that someone forgot to turn off. It’s exhausting. And somewhere between the late-night emails and the back-to-back meetings, I realized I’d forgotten how to lean into my feminine side—the side that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and gasp receiving help.

Why Leaning Into Feminine Energy Feels So Unnatural

Here’s the kicker: leaning into your feminine energy in a male-dominated workplace is hard. Like, really hard. Feminine traits like intuition, empathy, and openness to receiving often feel at odds with the “work harder, faster, stronger” mentality that’s rewarded in these environments. I mean, can you imagine raising your hand in a meeting and saying, “I’m going to trust my gut on this”? Yeah, me neither.

And as a working mom, it’s even harder to flip the switch. At home, you’re the CEO of Everything. You’re giving orders, managing schedules, and pulling off logistical feats that would make NASA jealous. So when do you actually get to receive—whether it’s help, support, or even just a moment to breathe?

Learning to Balance the Masculine and Feminine (Without Losing Your Mind)

If you’re like me, you might be wondering how to lean into your feminine energy without feeling like you’re losing ground at work. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way (and no, they don’t involve quitting your job to start a lavender farm… though that does sound nice):

1. Practice Receiving Help Without Guilt

   
   

   It’s okay to let someone else take the reins occasionally. At work, delegate a task. At home, let your partner handle bedtime (even if they do it “wrong”). Learning to receive is like building a muscle—it gets stronger with practice.

   
   

2. Tap Into Your Intuition

   
   

   Instead of overthinking every decision, give yourself permission to trust your instincts. Believe me, your gut knows things your spreadsheets don’t.

   
   

3. Create Space for Collaboration

   
   

   Feminine energy thrives on collaboration and connection. At work, invite input from others, and at home, don’t be afraid to share the mental load. Pro tip: Collaboration also works wonders when you’re negotiating who’s cleaning up the glitter explosion in the craft room.

   
   

4. Schedule Time for Creativity

   
   

   Whether it’s journaling, doodling, or dancing around the kitchen, reconnecting with your creative side can help balance out the grind of corporate life. Bonus points if your kids join in and you turn it into a family dance-off.

   
   

Final Thoughts: Balancing Both Sides as a Woman in a Man's World

Being one of the only women in the room has taught me a lot about resilience, adaptability, and the importance of balance. Yes, masculine traits help us thrive in the workplace, but it’s the feminine ones that make us feel whole. Learning to embrace both sides is like learning to dance to two very different beats—and as a working mom, I’d say we’re already pretty good at juggling chaos.

So the next time you find yourself leaning too far into those balls of steel, take a moment to pause. Give yourself permission to receive, trust, and collaborate. Learning to the art of seamlessly weaving in your ability to orchestrate an army of tantrum throwing toddlers while also leaning into your cultivated strength of “working harder, faster, stronger” is the secret to success in the workplace. Leaning into your feminine traits in the workplace isn't your cryptonite, it's your superpower. And if all else fails, remind yourself that the real MVPs aren’t the ones who crush it in meetings—they’re the ones who crush it while still remembering to buy cupcakes for the school bake sale 😉.

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About the Author

Phallyn is a corporate veteran turned workplace wellness expert with over a decade of experience in high-pressure environments. Certified in Feng Shui and hypnotherapy, she transformed her own burnout into a career helping businesses build healthier, more effective teams—without outdated corporate fluff. Through humor, honesty, and real-world strategies, she’s here to make work work better.

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