Ask SUCCESS: Forget the Glass Ceiling. What Are My Strengths as a Businesswoman? Question: You often hear of disadvantages that women face running a business, but what are some of the advantages of being a female in business? Bob Serling: My guest today, MaryEllen Tribby, is one of the foremost experts on helping women entrepreneurs and business owners, so I’m really pleased to have her join me. I’ll start by chipping in my perspective from the male’s point of view and then I’ll turn it over to MaryEllen. What I’ve found when working with clients is that the majority of women tend to have more empathy and better listening skills than men. For example, about two years ago I switched to a female insurance agent because my male insurance agent never seemed to really listen to me. A specific example is when I said to my agent, “We'd like to bundle our homeowners, health and auto insurance all under one company. I’d like you to recommend a few companies and give me a breakdown of the benefits of one company over another.” His answer was vague and dismissive, as if he was either confused or didn’t care to put extra effort into asking follow-up questions. When I posed the same question to the female agent, she said, “I don’t know exactly what they are, but I will find out for you and lay them all out individually.” Now, that's the difference between really listening and going that extra mile versus just doing it the way that's easiest for the agent. So that's my small piece of insight into this. Now, MaryEllen, I'll turn it over to you. Continue reading to see how women can leverage their advantages in business. | 
