Today I got to talk with Lindsay Grauling, an ambitious and driven woman who is currently working on her own startup and doing consulting for operations. I picked her brain for some advice for women in the business field and she tells her story for how she got to where she is today.
1. Describe your job for me in a nutshell.
I am doing some consulting and working on a startup with a friend. For the consulting I am helping a small company out of California set up and clean up their operations and get them to a point where their company can function and really grow.
Our startup deals with helping HOA’s. There is a need for HOA’s to get some assistance to get help with some of their projects. We know there is a way to standardize this and do it efficiently. We are simply helping with processes that are stumbling blocks.
2. How did you get to where you are today?
I think that I did it through a really solid work ethic and an ability to put my nose to the grindstone. I had to block out drama, hurt feelings, and focus on work and the things that matter. I was also blessed with people that believed in me and my career and gave me the opportunity to grow.
I also think that having strong people skills and an ability to read people and to see what they were trying to accomplish helped me. When you align yourself with someone else’s goals, remarkably you succeed as well.
3. What struggles have you experienced as a woman in a predominately male business field?
I spent 10 years working for a company that was 85% male but it didn’t feel like that. My gender didn’t matter. Working with men has provided me with a huge advantage. Girls in the world and business have this stereotype that we are really emotional, but working with men has forced that out of me and forced me to buck up a little bit. You have to let go of things that don’t matter.
One challenge is trying to figure out how to relate to men socially. What do we talk about when we are just chatting? How do we interact comfortably?
I’ve realized that people are people and everyone wants to feel cared about and loved. It made listening about a football game easier.
4. What tips do you have for women in business?
Stop gossiping. Put your head to the grindstone and just get results. Figure out who the leader is and figure out if your goals align with theirs and follow them. Never be part of the drama. Never fuel that fire. That’s what gives women a bad name in business. Never hide your inherent ability and talents that come from being a woman let them shine. Those are things that add value.
5. What is one thing you wish you knew before you started your career?
I think the thing I wish I had known is that people really do matter most. If they aren’t getting results or there is drama, that treating people kindly and with respect is far more important than getting results. It’s not saying that you have to indulge the person but solve the problem with respect and love and encourage their goals. You want happy employees.