Mindset Tools for Women in Construction That Work
By Nicky Thackray, Director of The Power Within HER and Coach of the Award-Winning Women in Leadership Programme
Let me guess. You’re holding it all together (just), wearing your “I’ve got this” face while your inner critic does laps in your head shouting, “Who do you think you are?”
Been there. Many times.
If you’re a woman in construction; a manager, a business owner, or the one people rely on to get sh*t done, then this is for you.
Because the truth is, you’re not alone. And no, you don’t need to be more like anyone else to be taken seriously. You don’t need to be louder, tougher, or pretend you’re fine when you’re crumbling inside.
What you do need are a few mindset tools that help you get back in the driver’s seat of your own leadership. And I’d love to share them with you, not from theory, but from lived experience.
Because I’ve led senior teams in some of the biggest organisations in the world, and I’ve also sat in my car after meetings wondering if I was even cut out for leadership at all.
So, let’s talk about what really makes a difference. We need to normalise talking about mindset tools for women in construction, not just tools for the job, but tools for the pressure, the isolation, the expectations.
Lead Yourself First
Leadership isn’t about job titles or shouting the loudest. It’s about self-awareness. It’s about how you show up on the days when everything feels too much.
Self-leadership means recognising when you’re spiralling in self-doubt, and choosing to pause instead of powering through. It means setting boundaries, saying no when you need to, and letting go of perfection.
This is why Motivational Intelligence (MQ) is so important. It’s the mindset that underpins how you lead, especially when things are hard. MQ teaches you how to lead yourself first, with intention, resilience and clarity.
We embed this deeply into our Women in Leadership MQ Programme, because if you can’t lead yourself, how can you lead others?
You Weren’t Born Confident, and That’s Okay
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. And you don’t need to “fake it till you make it”, you need to understand where your confidence actually comes from.
This is where MQ shines. It helps you rewire your internal belief system. It’s about understanding why you doubt yourself in the first place, and choosing to believe something different.
Motivational Intelligence shows us that success isn’t down to talent or background. It’s how we respond to adversity. That’s it.
And if you’ve made it this far in your career with no rulebook, little support, and a ton of grit, just imagine what you could do with the right mindset behind you.
Fail Like a Child
This one’s my favourite. Because it’s the most human.
Think about a toddler learning to walk. They fall. A lot. But they don’t cry and say “walking’s not for me.” They get back up and try again, because failure doesn’t mean anything to them yet.
Somewhere along the way, we learned to fear failure. To attach shame to it. To think we should already know how to do it all, or not bother trying.
But MQ teaches us something powerful: failure isn’t personal. It’s information. It’s a chance to learn, adapt, and keep going, without beating yourself up.
That’s why in our programme, we help you reframe what failure means, so it stops being something to fear and becomes something you use.
You Don’t Need to Be a ‘Boss Bitch’
I can’t tell you how many women I’ve coached who thought they had to be ruthless, unshakeable, and always on to be seen as strong leaders.
You don’t.
One of my clients once said to me, “I feel like I have to be a boss bitch to be taken seriously, but I’m not a boss bitch.”
And she didn’t have to be. The minute she let go of who she thought she had to be, she discovered she already was the leader she wanted to become, she just needed to give herself permission to lead in her own way.
Authenticity is your superpower. And the more aligned you are with your values, your voice, and your truth, the more powerful your leadership becomes.
MQ calls this Vision: knowing what you stand for and why you do what you do. It becomes your anchor in the storm.
Reconnect With What Actually Matters
When was the last time you paused long enough to ask: What do I actually want from this?
Success isn’t just the next job title or promotion. It’s not a bigger van or a better site. It’s about feeling good in your skin, proud of your impact, and at peace with your choices.
Motivational Intelligence helps you create that alignment; between your actions, your purpose, and the way you lead.
When you operate from that place? You stop hustling for validation. You start building a career that fits you.
This Is What We Do at The Power Within HER (and The Power Within Training)
I’ve been the woman crying at her desk, then fixing her face for the next meeting.
I’ve also been the woman standing on stage watching other women transform how they see themselves.
That shift, from self-doubt to self-belief, is everything. And it’s what we help women create in our award-winning Women in Leadership: Leading With Motivational Intelligence programme.
It’s built on over 30 years of global leadership training, trusted by Fortune 500 companies and rolled out in over 90 countries. But more importantly, it’s built for you.
For the woman in construction who’s holding it all together. For the woman who’s quietly wondering if she’s enough. For the woman who’s ready to stop proving herself, and start believing in herself.
Not sure where to start? Just want to chat?
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
If something in this post hit home, or if you’re just feeling stuck, reach out. No pressure. No pitch. Just a proper conversation with someone who gets it.
At The Power Within HER, we specialise in developing mindset tools for women in construction who are ready to lead on their own terms.
We’re here to listen. And we’re here to help.
Nicky Thackray
The Power Within Training,
The Motivational Intelligence Company
nicky@tpwtd.com
