Women’s History Month Is Long Over. How Do We Keep Empowering Women The Other 334 Days Of The Year?

By: Kathy Bleier

Celebrating trailblazers, risk-takers, and champions, Women’s History Month shined the spotlight on strong women throughout the month of March. But now that the curtains have closed and the red carpet has been rolled away, how do we demand an encore that has the longevity to last for the rest of the year?

Here are four easy, actionable steps to take to support the women in our lives throughout the year.

[Related: What Now?]

Share gratitude.

Gratitude means remembering to say “thank you,” but it is so much more than that. Take the time to share gratitude for a woman in your life, whether personal or professional, and tell them how they made a difference.

During the pandemic, many employees are feeling isolated as they continue to work from home. An email, text, or card could change someone’s life. There’s a difference between thinking you are making a difference and knowing you are making a difference. Sometimes the smallest gesture can make an impact in someone else’s life.

Provide encouragement.

As women, the path to our destinations can come with increased challenges, so lending an ear or providing advice can help empower women in a time of need.

During work conversations, take time to hear what someone is not saying to you. How can you be supportive and alleviate pressure for them? Asking how someone is doing when you can tell something is not right often opens doors of communication. The individual in question may not be ready to talk, but there is still relief in knowing that someone is listening.

Offer encouragement when you see that someone is experiencing difficulty or has made a mistake. Show them that there are no mistakes. Reaching our goals means there will be missed turns along the way. It’s all about the journey, and persistence will allow us to reach our destination.

[Related: The Cure for Zoom Fatigue: Creativity]

Be a mentor.

Offer mentorship to up-and-coming women at your work, in your place of worship, or in your neighborhood. Seeing something in someone before they see it themselves can empower young women to share their gifts with the world.

Throughout my corporate career, what helped my development the most was having mentors who placed their arms around me and shared all they knew. They were happy to share their knowledge and never felt competitive with others in the workplace.

Be of service.

The pandemic has put many out of work, but women have been hit especially hard. In December, women made up all of the country’s 140,000 net job losses.

There are so many great women-focused organizations already working in your community. Look them up. Spend time volunteering to help those in need. Providing skill-based training in your community can open countless doors that were once closed.

Let’s make the choice to show up and support one another. Let’s be conscious that women are making history every day of the year. Let’s uplift all the women in our lives, at home, and in the workplace, because true equality and empowerment requires breaking the confines of a single month’s celebration.

[Related: It’s Time to Get Serious About Educating Women Around the World — The Economy Will Thank Us]

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After a career in Leadership and HR, Kathy Bleier made a pivot to coaching as she recognized her passion lies in empowering individuals and building on their strengths. She launched Kathy Bleier Coaching in early December and focuses on client leads, personal branding, marketing, and networking.