In the middle of the 20th century, women swiftly and irrevocably entered the labor exchange of office workers on a par with men, and since then they have been little inferior to them. However, even in the current century, it is not uncommon for women to receive lower wages and face obstacles and restrictions in their early career growth compared to their male colleagues. So, if you are a promising specialist with serious inclinations of a businesswoman who wants to accelerate her professional development in her chosen field of activity, then check out the consolidated experience of those representatives of the fair sex who have already succeeded in the business world.
1. First, make sure that your professional skills are appropriate for your current position, as well as the future position you are applying for if you are promoted. Be self-critical. If you are struggling to meet the deadlines for completing work tasks, and the results themselves do not bring you the desired satisfaction, then you should probably think about another, less time-consuming position that will be within your power. If you are doing a wonderful job with your job duties, then by all means collect all written positive assessments of your work from your superiors and letters of thanks from clients. They will still be useful to you.
2. Always look for opportunities to demonstrate your brilliance and skills for the good of the company. Volunteer and provide whatever assistance you can with complex projects, even if they involve working outside of school hours. Help train new employees. Systematically attend courses and seminars to gain additional experience in your professional field. Your quality work, zeal and dedication should be noticed.
3. Listen to the opinions, ideas, suggestions and opinions of key people in the company, so you can get a lot of useful information. Remember that in workshops, men tend to outnumber women and are heard more and more often. Take a moment and feel free to express your clear position on any issue, and it is advisable to prepare your possible statements in advance and use them throughout the meeting when they may be important and appropriate.
4. Avoid “borrowing” a typically masculine style of communication: raising your voice, using harsh and swear words, or being condescending to your subordinates. When communicating, develop a style of direct communication combined with eye contact. When expressing your point of view, the voice should be calm, but determined and persistent.
5. Become visible in your company. There should not be too many of you, but becoming necessary and indispensable is a prerequisite. Participate in the creation of working groups and commissions, contribute to the compilation of a company newsletter, organize extra-work and corporate events in the office. Active and sympathetic people are usually seen by employees as potential leaders who are eventually promoted to key positions within the company.
6. Develop a leader within yourself. Develop your style of dress, work, interaction and communication. Think practical, act professionally. Depending on the style of organizational behavior in your company, you can develop both the image of a “leader-servant” and an image of a leader without emotions and principles.
7. Take a course on organizational management, or at least read a few books on the topic. Knowing certain names, theories, events and success stories of leaders in your field can bring substantial dividends to your image, plus the fame of a highly educated professional.
8. Know how to ask for what you really deserve, be it a pay increase, a promotion, flexible work hours, bonuses, or other incentives. You should not naively believe that all your achievements and successes will be automatically noticed and rewarded. They need to be constantly but carefully mentioned and underlined.
Women of the 21st century are making great strides and are widely recognized in today’s business world. They confidently lead in almost every field of activity, not inferior to men, and in many ways giving them a head start. If professional development and building a successful career are at the head of your plans, then actively use all the opportunities, knowledge and skills to maximize your chances of great success.
