Perimenopause and menopause are natural transitions, but the impact of hormonal fluctuations on work performance is often underestimated, regardless of a woman’s age or stage in life. Women still menstruating, those in perimenopause, and those experiencing menopause all navigate challenges that affect their physical and emotional wellbeing. From fatigue and brain fog to mood swings and memory lapses, these symptoms can deeply influence a woman’s confidence, communication, and overall self-esteem at work. Yet, society continues to expect the same high productivity from women without fully understanding these natural changes.
Wellbeing Support: Navigating the Challenges
Hormonal fluctuations impact women’s physical and emotional wellbeing, but it’s crucial to provide the support needed to navigate these transitions. Employers can help by offering resources that empower women to thrive.
Mental Health Support: Access to counseling or mental health resources can help women manage emotional fluctuations and reduce stigma around discussing mental health at work.
Wellness Programs: Offering stress management, fitness, or mindfulness programs can help women cope with symptoms like fatigue and brain fog, boosting overall wellbeing.
Flexible Work Arrangements: Providing flexibility with work hours or remote options allows women to manage their energy levels and stay productive during challenging times.
Education and Awareness: Educating teams about the impact of hormonal changes fosters empathy and creates a supportive work environment where women feel comfortable voicing their needs.
Impact on communication and team culture
Hormonal fluctuations don’t just affect individual performance they can also disrupt team dynamics and communication overall. When women experience cognitive and emotional changes, it can impact how they engage with colleagues, how they communicate, and how they perceive their own abilities. For example, during moments of fatigue or brain fog, women may struggle with articulating ideas clearly, which can affect confidence in meetings or group discussions. They might become more withdrawn, second-guessing their thoughts and contributions.
Similarly, mood swings common during the luteal phase, perimenopause, or menopause can make it harder to maintain the same level of composure, which could be misinterpreted by others as irritability or lack of focus. This can harm self-esteem, especially if colleagues don’t recognize that these fluctuations are tied to natural biological changes. The result? A cycle of feeling disconnected from the team, frustrated, and undervalued.
Why Cyclical Thinking Matters
Cyclical thinking in the workplace could offer the flexibility needed to support women through all stages of hormonal fluctuations, improving both their wellbeing, personal productivity and their interactions with their teams. Just as we adjust our routines to support physical health, we can adjust expectations in the workplace to create a more compassionate environment that recognizes the natural declines and flow of energy, focus, and mood.
Here’s how cyclical thinking could improve team dynamics:
1. Empathy and Support: Understanding that women experience natural changes in energy and mood can create an environment where colleagues show more empathy. This can lead to more open communication, less judgment, and a healthier team dynamic. When everyone understands that performance will fluctuate, there’s less pressure to “be on” all the time, allowing women to lean into their strengths during their most energized phases and lean back when they need a little more space.
2. Improved Communication: When hormonal fluctuations are acknowledged, women may feel more comfortable being open about their needs and challenges. For example, a team member might communicate, “I’m feeling a bit drained today, can we push this meeting to the afternoon?” This transparency reduces the stress of pretending everything is fine and can lead to better collaboration and understanding.
3. Boosting Self-Esteem: If workplaces normalize the fact that productivity and focus can shift due to hormonal cycles, it can help women feel more confident in their work. Recognizing that their body’s natural rhythms are being respected helps women align their self-worth with their value and abilities rather than constantly measuring up to a fixed standard of performance.
4. Reducing Stress & Preventing Burnout: The mental and emotional toll of constant high performance expectations especially during challenging phases like just before the cycle or perimenopause can lead to burnout. By allowing flexibility, reducing unrealistic demands, and focusing on sustainability over sheer output, women can feel more supported, which ultimately benefits the entire team.
Can cyclical thinking ever align with corporate productivity goals?
This model isn’t without its challenges. Companies are driven by urgent productivity goals and strict timelines. In many environments, maintaining high performance is a non-negotiable part of achieving success. So, while the need for compassion and flexibility is clear, how do we integrate this understanding into a culture where meeting targets is the priority?
This is the hard question. It requires a real shift in how companies define success and support their teams. Can companies truly embrace this cyclical model while balancing the urgency of hitting targets and achieving goals? Are they willing to be empathetic and adjust their expectations to accommodate the natural changes women experience?
The Path Forward
For women to succeed in today’s work environments, they must develop self-awareness about their hormonal patterns, understanding when their energy and focus are at their peak and when they might need extra support. But it’s equally important for organizations to acknowledge these fluctuations and create spaces where women can thrive at every stage of life without the fear of judgment or self-doubt. By integrating cyclical thinking with wellbeing support, women can better manage hormonal fluctuations and succeed in their careers while contributing to healthier, more productive teams.
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