Written by Susanna Kenyon-Muir, Life & Career Coach
Susanna is a transformational life and career coach dedicated to helping corporate professionals design and live lives they genuinely love, in alignment with their authentic selves. With a worldly perspective gained from her experiences working in the corporate sector across the globe, both in large and startup technology organisations, she possesses a deep understanding of individuals and the dynamics of the corporate world.
Do you often find yourself in conflict with others, either at work or in your personal life? Do you feel like you're constantly busy but making little progress, or perhaps you're overwhelmed and burned out? If so, you may be operating predominantly in your masculine energy.
As someone who spent much of her life in this overextended masculine energy, I understand the constant drive to "do," the resulting burnout, and the strain it can put on relationships. A few years ago, while on my personal growth journey, I discovered the concept of masculine and feminine energy. This newfound awareness has been transformational.
Understanding masculine and feminine energies
Masculine energy is characterised by action, assertiveness, organisation, protection, logic, and structure. It’s the driving force behind getting things done. On the other hand, feminine energy is rooted in being, receiving, intuition, listening, creativity, openness, and vulnerability.
Both men and women possess masculine and feminine energies, and neither is inherently good or bad. The key is achieving balance. While masculine energy helps us accomplish tasks, feminine energy allows us to restore, reflect, and create harmony in relationships. It’s the yin to the yang. Without nurturing our feminine side, we risk burnout and a lack of fulfilment, both personally and professionally.
Leading with feminine energy
Some of the world's most effective leaders understand the importance of balancing masculine and feminine energy. Emotional intelligence—an essential trait in leadership—requires empathy, awareness, communication, and listening, all attributes of feminine energy.
Consider figures like Richard Branson, Steven Bartlett, Barack Obama, and Gary Vaynerchuk. These leaders effectively take action (masculine) while also engaging with their teams, listening to their customers, and acting with empathy and vulnerability (feminine).
Practical ways to apply energy balance in the workplace
Here are some strategies to help you bring polarity into your professional life:
Conflict resolution for win-win outcomes: Apply the SEE-HEAR-SPEAK approach. Conflicts often arise when two assertive people both want to be heard. Try seeing the other person’s perspective and hearing their side (feminine), then respond with awareness and compassion, followed by taking aligned action to reach a win-win outcome (masculine).
Getting promoted: Express your career aspirations clearly, but from a place aligned with your values and needs (feminine). Then, outline a structured plan (masculine) showing why you deserve the promotion and how you intend to achieve it. Be mindful of your tone, empathy, and connection during the conversation.
Succeeding in interviews: Building rapport and trust with interviewers (feminine) is just as crucial as demonstrating your skills and qualifications (masculine). Balance these two aspects to make a lasting impression.
Maintaining mental well-being: Avoid burnout from constant doing by incorporating moments of being. Listen to your body, engage in deep breathing, meditate, take walks, and find joy in small, calming activities to restore your energy.
Getting things done with flow and balance: Mix your to-do list with periods of rest. Take breaks to walk, journal, practice breathwork, and connect with your purpose or intentions. Let your intuition (feminine) guide you, and then act (masculine) from a place of alignment.
Embracing feminine energy
Take a moment to reflect on where you might be overusing your masculine energy. Are you constantly in "doing" mode without allowing time for stillness and receptivity? Does this shift depending on whether you're at work or in your personal life?
If you're facing conflict, mismatched expectations, or recurring challenges in relationships, it may be time to connect with your feminine energy. Allow yourself to simply "be" and "receive," and observe how it changes your interactions and results.
Where can you invite more feminine energy to create greater understanding, reduce conflict, and foster empathy?
For more on feminine and masculine energies and how you can incorporate this approach into your life and career, feel free to reach out to Susanna here.
Read more from Susanna Kenyon-Muir
Susanna Kenyon-Muir, Life & Career Coach
Susanna is a transformational life and career coach dedicated to helping corporate professionals design and live lives they genuinely love, in alignment with their authentic selves. With a worldly perspective gained from her experiences working in the corporate sector across the globe, both in large and startup technology organisations, she possesses a deep understanding of individuals and the dynamics of the corporate world. As the visionary behind 'Coaching by Susanna,' she not only provides expert coaching but also amplifies inspiring success stories through her podcast; 'On Being You – with Susanna.' She has recently launched wellness retreats designed to empower individuals in crafting their ideal lives.
