How Menopause Affects Leadership
The impact of menopause goes beyond your personal life
Menopause affects millions of women worldwide, yet its impact on leadership roles and career progression remains largely unspoken. Women over 40 often face symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and fatigue that can challenge their confidence, communication, and professional effectiveness. This article explores the profound ways menopause influences leadership, workplace dynamics, and career trajectories, highlighting the need for greater awareness and support.
Many women experience multiple symptoms at once. Common physical symptoms women experience in midlife include:
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Sleep issues
Fatigue and unsteady energy levels
Brain fog, which include memory issues and trouble concentrating
Mood changes such as irritability, anxiety, or depression, as well as mood swings
Physical changes related to weight gain, as well as muscle and joint aches
Other symptoms such as urinary tract infections, heart palpitations, headaches, and bladder control issues
And these can persist for years.
These symptoms can inevitably lead to wider significant consequences for leadership, confidence, and career advancement. Career trajectories can also be disrupted, with some women reducing their hours, changing roles, or leaving jobs entirely due to the impact of these symptoms. It's important to understand the magnitude of these struggle and how they can lead to some serious long-term effects on women’s careers.
Understanding the Shift
Reduced Confidence and Self-Doubt
Menopause can bring about feelings of self-doubt or a loss of confidence, especially when symptoms like brain fog, memory lapses, or emotional volatility arise.
These symptoms can undermine a woman’s assertiveness, decision-making abilities and her will to inspire and motivate others.
Burnout and Resilience
As women face disruptive symptoms while handling high-pressure responsibilities, this can lead to increased stress and even burnout. Yet, facing these challenges head-on can also cultivate deeper emotional resilience and self-awareness - qualities that, over time, can help women lead with greater empathy, adaptability, and insight.
Cognitive and Emotional Challenges
Symptoms such as poor concentration, fatigue, memory issues, and mood swings can directly affect a woman’s ability to process information, strategize, and communicate effectively. These changes can make women feel less capable or not on their A game. I have been affected by this over and over again. As of late, it seems as though my thoughts don’t connect with my mouth. My speaking skills have been greatly affected - words jumble and don’t come out as they should or as fluidly as I am used to. This inevitably has shaken my confidence, especially during client meetings and presentations.
Career Advancement and Workplace Consequences
Reduced Opportunities and Promotions
A significant proportion of women report that menopausal symptoms have negatively impacted their work. In a UK survey, one in five women passed on the chance to go for a promotion they would have otherwise considered, 19% reduced their hours, and 12% actually resigned due to menopausal symptoms.
Another study found that a whopping 99% of women felt perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms had a negative impact on their careers, with more than a third describing the impact as significant.
Workplace Discrimination and Stigma
There is still so much stigma around perimenopause and menopause. This often leads women to hiding their symptoms due to concerns about being misunderstood or judged. This reluctance to share their experiences can leave many women feeling isolated and unsupported, especially when their symptoms affect performance or well-being at work. Without open dialogue and understanding from managers, colleagues and team members, women may struggle to access the adjustments or support they need, which can ultimately impact both their confidence and career progression.
Time Off and Reduced Productivity
Nearly 60% of women have taken time off work due to menopausal symptoms, and 18% were off for more than eight weeks. Reasons for time off included: reduced efficiency (45%), poor quality of work (26%), and lack of concentration (7%).
Broader Organizational Impact
Lost Talent and Innovation
The lack of support and understanding around menopause in the workplace leads to women leaving jobs, reducing hours, or stepping back from leadership roles.
Reduced Productivity
Symptoms such as fatigue, poor concentration, and memory issues can negatively affect job performance and overall productivity.
Lower Employee Engagement and Well-being
Menopausal symptoms can reduce confidence, increase stress, and contribute to feelings of isolation or lack of support, which often impact women’s overall morale and engagement.
Greater Time Off and Lower Effectiveness
While some women take time off, others continue working despite symptoms, often at reduced effectiveness, which leads to both absenteeism and presenteeism.
Increased Impact on Leadership Pipelines
If women in midlife with valuable experience leave or reduce their roles, organizations may lose critical leadership talent and disrupt succession planning.
Menopause-related struggles can have profound consequences for women in leadership. However, with the right support, education, and workplace adjustments, women can continue to lead effectively and even emerge more resilient and authentic in their roles.
I invite you to read 10 Essential Skills for Midlife Leaders for practical strategies to help manage the disruptions perimenopause and menopause can cause.
If you’re a midlife woman leader experiencing these challenges, know you’re not alone. Understanding the impact is the first step toward navigating this complex phase of life and leadership. For personalized support tailored to your unique journey, I invite you to explore my coaching and programs designed specifically for women like you.
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