I need some fellow business owner's advice. I have wonderful employees that are always flexible and coming up with great ideas. The problem is they are all women and I am male. They take things personally sometimes when I try to suggest something or point out a different way of doing things. I have one employee who really takes it to heart! How do I continue to use constructive criticism with her when she only sees it as "cricisim"?

I gotta say "you poor guy". Coming from a woman's perspective - where I worked with mostly women and one man - women are just that way. Sorry. I understand your frustration, though. I was once a supervisor of three women, all of whom had different personalities. I basically had to adjust my personality to compliment the woman I was addressing at any particular time. Believe me, that is difficult for a woman to do. I was recently told by my (former) male boss that women need to remove the "emotion" from their work. Doing so - to a small extent - did change my outlook and reaction when he made suggestions on doing things differently. I was able to constructively communicate with him. Keep in mind, though, I only removed the "emotion" from certain work tasks. I guess it is a two way street. You ahve to adjust your personality and she has to accept the facts.

So, to answer your question, I suggest trying to word things in a manner to this particular woman that compliments her personality. No pointing fingers, no blaming (I'm not implying you do these things). Start off by saying something like "you make a very good point (name), maybe we can add to your point by...". It always makes a person feel good when their idea is acknowledged positivly, even if a twist is put to the idea.

It may sound like you're not being yourself, but in reality, I think you are helping her as well as expanding your management skills.

Hope this helps!

Kathleen
http://www.ewomanweb.com
Empowering women with the ability tostart and run a business

Your question was simple but the answer you recieved went from
difficult employees to something gender specific...don't do
that.
Employees are all different- that is a given. You shouldn't
have to tip-toe around those who are women vs. those who are
men- really.  I am a women who spent much of her life with a
male boss, who was as blunt with me as he was with the guys. 
It was me who had to get the backbone, become stronger, and
develop myself....until that occurred I wasn't able to handle
his delivery of criticism.

Okay, there is a way of giving constructive criticism and a
better way but it shouldn't be delivered "special"
just because your employess are M or female....and anyone who
tells you othewise is buying into the theory that because they
are female that therefore they are the "victim."

It is your business.  You, I am certain like I, have a way of
conducting business and procedures in order to sell and
succeed.
If you have difficult employess, then restructure your
workforce and hire stronger more applicable people. Don't be
afraid to restructure-the hassle of difficult people just
isn't worth your time.

C.