March 12 2020 by Roberto GCF
Breaking the glass ceiling #empoweringwomen
Following up on the 8th March’s International Women’s Day, we thought we’d shed some light on the concept of breaking the very tangible ‘glass ceiling’ which is prevalent in so many companies…
High-achieving women have always faced barriers to success: the following strategies could help you make it to the top:
- Raise your standards Expect more from yourself than others would – challenge yourself to work smarter rather than harder: set yourself inspiring and motivating goals; complete tasks sooner and better; results don’t happen without effort so make sure yours reflect a level of excellence that positions you for greater success.
- Ask for what you want because no one will give it to you. Don’t be afraid to express your interest in achieving an impressive career. Be bold and make sure everyone knows and especially your manager, what are your professional goals and how determined you are to reach them. Everyone loves a self-confident person who knows what she wants.
- Understand the difference between mentor and sponsor – then get both Mentors share wisdom gleaned over a lifetime of experience: they act as advisers and provide behind the scenes feedback and direction. Sponsors are usually senior level leaders who are vested in a protégé’s overall career success and energetically advocate for them. The sponsor leverages their influence to add credibility to the(ir) protégé’s career path. It is important that women seek both to ensure optimum upward mobility and long-term career success.
- Leverage your ‘professional wheelhouse’ Use the ENTIRETY of your knowledge, skills, experience and abilities – remember this is not limited to your current or most recent career path. You may have certain professional experiences unrelated to your every day ones, which may strengthen your overall offering. Dig deeper to see how to successfully incorporate more of what you know into all that you do.
- Network, delegate and collaborate like a true pro Success is never the result of solitary efforts: attempting to do everything yourself is a recipe for disaster, no matter how capable you are. Beyond delegating duties – which is an absolute given – making purposeful connections and collaborating with others adds unlimited value to all the work you do. Networking will allow you to reach new audiences and share your expertise in a low-stress environment. Keep things fun and interesting by mingling outside your comfort zone and beyond your usual sphere!
