Here are a few practical ways to shift the marketing story:
- Reframe the Language
Combine emotional terms like connection and empathy with performance-oriented language like mental toughness and resilience. - Highlight Male Voices
Include male facilitators, panelists, or testimonials. Seeing people “like me” is often the first step to imagining ourselves in a space. - Link to Real-World Outcomes
Demonstrate how mindfulness, emotional regulation, or optimism can improve career performance, relationships, or physical health. - Offer Gender-Specific Spaces
Smaller, male-only cohorts can lower the social risk of vulnerability and build trust. - Meet Men Where They Already Are
Bring workshops into gyms, tech companies, entrepreneurial networks, or sports organizations to reach audiences in familiar environments. - Gamify the Experience
Frame learning as a “challenge” or “mission” (e.g., 30-Day Resilience Challenge) to appeal to achievement-driven mindsets.
Final Reflection
The goal isn’t to “fix” men or force emotional growth into a one-size-fits-all mould. It’s to broaden the invitation and recognize that different people seek growth in different ways.
Some spaces may continue to centre women—and for good reason, especially in trauma recovery or identity-based healing. But there’s plenty of room to expand the personal development world to be more diverse, creative, and inclusive.
