One of the astounding things we've clarified at Co.ofWomen is the way our innate female strengths can get in our way when we apply them in a domain where they are not required. We now refer to this as 'the mother syndrome' where we unconsciously find ourselves in our business roles acting the role of mother (looking after everyone else, paying scant attention to ourselves, being 'nice', pleasing everyone, to name a few) and finding it's us that's not progressing.
To be absolutely clear, this is not about ignoring or suppressing our innate strengths. The business world would be a sorry place without them. What we're talking about is harnessing them so that they work for us, so that we can progress and see the results we want.
When we know how to look after ourselves, we are better bosses, partners mothers etc. So let's do that eh?