Sometimes my male colleagues don't take me seriously. How can a woman be assertive at work without being offensive?

Sometimes my male colleagues don't take me seriously. How can a woman be assertive at work without being offensive?
Learn to lead.
Isaiah 11:1-9 | posted 1/30/2009

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It's not easy being a Christian woman in the workplace. We get so many messages. Be strong. Be soft. Be tough. Be tender. Be aggressive. Be passive. Ironically, we sometimes use our faith as an excuse for sitting quietly on the sidelines while letting the men around us make all the "important" decisions. No wonder we have a hard time finding a comfortable niche in the working world!

But the Bible doesn't ask women to be doormats. Instead, the Bible paints a picture of a future world where enemies are friends and the weak and the strong live together peacefully (11:6, 7). You can model that kind of work right now in the way you live. By standing apart from the competitive hierarchy common in business, you are free to be truly equal, showing integrity and courage in everything you do. That means you, as a working woman, don't have to hide your talents or keep your great ideas to yourself. In fact, this passage in Isaiah pictures a kind of leadership based on "wisdom and understanding" (11:2)—traits that come naturally for many women.

So let your gifts shine through. Not only will you surprise your male colleagues, you might just surprise yourself. (See also Genesis 50:15-21; Judges 4:4-15; Ephesians 5:6-21.)

Good Words to Remember:

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:2

Today's Challenge:

Have you found your niche in the working world, or are you still searching?

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