Are we ready to lead? “We” as in “women”? Far & wide, I have heard loads on diversity and how it would be great to see women on top positions. We’re strong communicators, great on the style quotient and are still struggling to make the CEO’s chair. Why?
Having seen, worked with and reported to many amazing men & women…there are a few strong issues that I’ve actively seen pull us women back.
No.1: Perception. How we perceive ourselves is critical to how fast we can make it. You are NOT bad if you are aggressive and strongly opinionated. You’ve got to stop saying “I think….” before every suggestion you make and “Isn’t it?” at the end of most sentences. You’re good…passionately believe in it and work backwards from there.
No. 2: Power. As we go up the ladder…we are increasingly reticent & shy about showing off the power we have. Many a time, we do not even realize we have some. We sympathetically “feel” for the organisation that’s hiring us/the people who are at fault/men who are more aggressive or outspoken
And do not push our point across even when we know we are right.
No. 3: Poor Financial Savvy…most women on their way up claim to have no time to plan their finances and leave it too late. They are quick to find out what the JD(Job Description) states…but do not find out what the job is worth in monetary terms in the market…and do not find out about or fight for extra allowances like joining bonuses, relocation expenses, school capitation fees, brokerage charges…
They just prefer to quietly wear their backsides slogging, happy with crumbs and paper certificates.
It’s time to do a little homework about the market value of the work we put in, stand tall and ask for 20% more than what we think the job is worth, sweetly adding,” Oh-that’s negotiable” to the figure quoted and sit back while HR drops its jaws at your breezy confidence and runs around to get approvals to add to the figure THEY had in mind for youJ!
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