The importance of sisterhood and having a strong network
From supporting you through your struggles to celebrating your successes, the best support and ideas come from those around you. Pursuing your bookkeeping career or running a business doesn’t mean you have to rely on yourself for everything. International Women’s Day on 8 March serves as a reminder that a close sisterhood of women in the same boat as you can be your greatest resource. Sisterhood is strengthened by an unbreakable bond of collaborating with women in your profession, the challenges you share and the milestones you celebrate.
From supporting you through your struggles to celebrating your successes, the best support and ideas come from those around you. Pursuing your bookkeeping career or running a business doesn’t mean you have to rely on yourself for everything. International Women’s Day on 8 March serves as a reminder that a close sisterhood of women in the same boat as you can be your greatest resource. Sisterhood is strengthened by an unbreakable bond of collaborating with women in your profession, the challenges you share and the milestones you celebrate.
With 78% of ICB Bookkeepers being women, ICB has a strong history of fostering dedicated support networks of hard-working women. Research from the Harvard Business Review finds that although both men and women receive help from networking with like-minded peers, women who also have a support network of female contacts are more likely to earn positions with greater authority and pay.
If 2020 and 2021 have shown us anything, it’s the power of community. Finding strength in sisterhood could be the foundation of getting a promotion, growing your practice, achieving more time off, or being the best version of yourself. A survey by JobsForHer found that 94% of women felt they needed networking groups that focussed on helping female workers progress in their careers. This same survey also shows that 49% of women believe a platform that enables them to highlight their leadership skills will help them seek senior positions in their organisations. Keeping this in mind taking advantage of the ICB community could be the best way for female bookkeepers to advance in their careers and push through the challenges they face.
Working Wellness and Women
Running your own business means you may find yourself ‘juggling’. Juggling your work, your deadlines, your family, your social life, making it difficult to find a healthy balance. Connecting with like-minded women who know exactly what you’re going through: a network that relates to your struggles, that can offer solutions and can supply the reassurance and inspiration you need to keep going, can be an essential part of your growth as a bookkeeper, and help you keep your work-life balance in check.
Running your own business means you may find yourself ‘juggling’. Juggling your work, your deadlines, your family, your social life, making it difficult to find a healthy balance. Connecting with like-minded women who know exactly what you’re going through: a network that relates to your struggles, that can offer solutions and can supply the reassurance and inspiration you need to keep going, can be an essential part of your growth as a bookkeeper, and help you keep your work-life balance in check.
The psychology behind sisterhood and female-friendships begins to explain the huge benefits female relationships can have on wellness. Studies have shown that women are more likely than men to alleviate stress by reaching out to each other for support and therefore women who spend time building healthy, long-lasting relationships with other women tend to be more resilient, happier, and less likely to be affected by major setbacks.
"I love my husband, but it is nothing like a conversation with a woman that understands you. I grow so much from those conversations.” – Beyoncé
Your new sisters can even help you take the ‘work’ out of networking. When you create connections based on your shared interests and goals, you’ll improve your bookkeeping abilities and no longer feel like you need to ‘market’ yourself to every new connection you wish to make.
There’s Power in Numbers
The benefits of sisterhood don’t stop at wellness, the impact of female togetherness and the ability to share experiences (without the fear of judgement) can elevate your career beyond what you can achieve alone. Joining a network of your peers will also allow you to interact with others from varied backgrounds and with different experiences, introducing fresh perspectives into your life and serving as a means for positive change.
The number of self-employed women continues to rise in the UK as they now make up the majority of the newly self-employed. Before 2008, women only made up a quarter of the newly self-employed in the UK. More and more it seems, women feel empowered to ‘go it alone’, safe in the knowledge that many have gone before and will support them in their venture. What’s more, ICB’s 2500+ female-owned bookkeeping practices demonstrate that self-employment offers women a sadly much-needed route to financial independence and a fulfilling career. In words that will resonate with many ICB bookkeepers, Nicole Atkinson MICB PM.Dip says “[after being] made redundant at the end of my second period of maternity leave, I was unable to find a part-time role with enough seniority to pay nursery fees. I wanted a flexible career that I could grow as my children grew and that I could take further once they were at school.”
ICB Branch Networks
A wonderful way to connect to your bookkeeping sisters is via the ICB Branch Network! Joining an ICB Branch allows you to network with local bookkeepers in a relaxed environment. You’ll connect with people in the same boat as you, in a safe space to discuss your bookkeeping career. Everyone has something to offer. Branch Meetings are organised by members for members.
Joining your local branch isn’t just an amazing way to gain a supportive network of amazing ICB bookkeepers, you can gain CPD (Continuing Professional Development) points from each meeting! One of the easiest ways to stay on top of CPD is by attending your local branch meetings.
“I really suggest joining your local ICB branch, they’re so lovely. We have a branch meeting every month- they've been wonderful! If you don’t have a local branch, you should consider setting one up!” - Elizabeth Carter MICB PM.Dip
Facebook Groups
Facebook GroupsICB has a Facebook Group for each individual Branch. This is a suitable place to ask questions about clients, offer advice, and seek support. On top of this, we have a dedicated Facebook Group for ICB Members and one for Students. All these groups provide a safe space where you can share and learn with your peers.
The Bookkeepers Summit
Bookkeepers Summit isn’t just for gaining vital information, learning how to grow your practice and gain industry insights- it's an incredible networking opportunity! At our in-person Summit, a group of senior ICB members form a ‘welcoming committee’ at the registration desk and are dotted around the event to make sure no one feels lonely, and newbies/solo attendees are introduced to others within their local branch.
In Conclusion: The Importance of Sisterhood
In the wake of Covid-19, connection and relationship-building have become more important than ever. Taking advantage of networking opportunities and fostering meaningful connections should become a priority. Despite not being able to meet in person, thanks to the internet, socialising has become easier than ever. So, make sure you join your local branch, get on the ICB Facebook groups and join your Bookkeeping Sisters!
Want to join us at our ICB International Women’s Day Celebrations?
What’s included in this ICB student and member online event:
- * Introduction by ICB CEO
- * Energising Pilates for All Abilities by Rachel Kinder
- * How to navigate your career for success by Lorna Watson, Learning and Development Consultant at Dell Technologies
- * Online networking with the ICB network
- * Women in Bookkeeping, A Global Perspective by ICFM delegation
- * International Women's Day Quiz
- * Two CPD points automatically added to your ICB CPD log after you attend