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Are Women Supporting Each Other at Work?

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Are women supporting each other at work

I feel that we need to raise awareness about women supporting each other in the workplace. To my mind, women helping women is an unused resource. A resource that, if we all utilize, can further the company we work for and us.

So, how can things get better with collaboration amongst female professionals? 

Before we jump in, let’s take a step back. Discrimination against women in the workplace is, unfortunately, an old story. Women face multiple barriers from getting the job to earning promotions. A lot has been written about how hard women have to work to prove themselves and achieve higher positions. The term, breaking the glass ceiling, was first coined to focus on the hardships women encountered in a male-dominated workplace.  

However, we missed out on how women treat other women. 

Nowadays, various research pieces are also being conducted on how their own tribe members mistreat females. Women are accused of bullying, ill-treating women, and competing with each other.  

Simultaneously, a different set of studies show what females can gain by supporting each other at work. Let us study this latter motion and find out how to move towards a better future — a future where women supporting each other is more widespread. 

 The emergence of women power 

The situation was very tough for the first wave of female executives. They were treated unfairly and had to face disparity in pay packages and other forms of discrimination. Despite these setbacks, women advanced to key leadership positions. They steered up changes that were welcomed by all. And the result? More and more women felt the motivation to join the workforce.  

People, who believed the problem of discrimination would be alleviated by introducing more women into the workforce, were proven wrong. Sadly, most women imitated their counterparts’ leadership style and came across as harsh, mean, and demanding. At the time, it appeared natural, as these women were the first generation of female managers and leaders. They were working in a male–dominated setup and trying to find their foothold. 

Women against women – the other side of discrimination 

The less known side of discrimination is that women bring on almost 40% of workplace bullying. It might feel like the wild wild west of the modern working environment. In some cases, they have a sour relationship with their female colleagues and subordinates. These relationships are devoid of trust and the ability to rely on each other. They often refuse to accept new ideas proposed by their female colleagues. Other females envy the achievements of women. Their same gender colleagues can ridicule women with bold ideas and firm beliefs communicated with confidence. Often derogatory words are used against ambitious women, and their success is attributed to unfair means. In a nutshell, some women are not supporting each other at work. Furthermore, it‘s startling that most women believe this and try to stay away from female colleagues. Some women depend more on their male counterparts than their female co-workers. It‘s a gloomy picture, right?  

 Women competing with women in the workplace 

Well, the good news is that despite all the barriers and hurdles, the participation of women in the workforce is increasing. According to a recent study, 49% of our workforce is made up of women now. They learn their own authentic ways to shine a light on their results and professional expertise and strive to prove the value they create. At the same time, they face another challenge, the challenge of women supporting each other. 

Competition in the workplace is not a new invention. Although, you will hear plenty of stories of women competing with the mindset that they need to bring each other down. This competition is unhealthy as it makes one win by making the other lose. It is also known as covert competition or indirect aggression. Some women find it challenging to see other women getting promotions, experiencing pay hikes, or being recognized.  

What else? Jealousy is another emotion attached to covert competition. A woman may like another woman‘s presentation skills, but they would feel envious of the recognition the other woman receives after the meeting. She may feel threatened by the other person‘s popularity.  

Let‘s take a minute or two to think about why that is so. 

The general belief among people has been, for a while, that women are not supporting each other at work. What if the situation was different? Just think about the numerous initiatives, organizations, projects, or networks women started, seeing women collaborating and helping other women grow. 

Everybody gains when women support each other 

There is great power in collaboration! Women supporting each other not only make us feel great but also increase our chances of success. There is power with the pack, and the more women realize this, the more changes they can bring to the equation. Situations that seem hostile or negative can be turned into positive and encouraging if women support each other at work. 

Then there is a bigger question of gender equality at work. How can we achieve that if we have women bullying women? Collaboration over competition will help women to fight misogyny and overcome gender–related difficulties.  

Benefits of networking and women supporting each other 

According to a Harvard Business Review study, both men and women benefit from having a network of peers. Besides, women stand to gain more in terms of finding better job opportunities and higher pay packages. Women face bias in various forms while trying to climb the ladder of leadership. But having close contact with other women helps them to deal with these hurdles easier. They can benefit from the experiences of women who have already faced bias. You can make better decisions, dare to ask for what you are worth, and offer your unique talents to align with the organization’s goals. 

That‘s right – building your own circle of girls, and having each other‘s back is a great feeling. Having strong professional relationships with peers and supporting each other could help women to advance their careers. Women act as sponsors and mentors to each other, which, in the long run, is beneficial to them as well as the organization. 

Move beyond connection building  

When we attend conferences and training sessions, we also aim to build connections with like-minded people. But what are connections? A stack of business cards? Remember, for long-lasting growth and support, you need relationships and not mere connections. Women need to get out there and create strong working relationships with females from other groups. All this would be possible if you shake off your insecurities and reach out to peers.  

The power in relationships when women supporting each other 

We all know that relationships are powerful in creating feelings of security and dependence. Based on shared interests and goals, these unique connections could propel you to be even more successful at work. Imagine the reassuring feeling you get when you are in an environment where you can meet other women, share your experiences, and expand your horizon. It‘s a lot of fun and an opportunity to release stress, something that women professionals desperately need. Thus, women leaders must encourage relationship building with other females. Mentoring, coaching, and networking are tools that can promote healthy relationships between female co-workers. 

Build each other up  

This is an excellent idea! When you help others to rise, you shine. Building each other up is a way of promoting a friendly environment where people get their due credit. When someone does a great job, congratulate them, share it with others, and encourage others to try harder. When you build each other up, you motivate even more women to join and strengthen your tribe. This is the best way to fight gender–related difficulties and ensure your work is seen and appreciated. Together, you can ask for transparent policies, equality in pay packages, and other benefits.  

Collaborate, don‘t compete with each other 

Why do women compete with other women? When good opportunities are scarce, if a woman fears that her efforts will go unnoticed or she will not be compensated for her hard work, she will try to compete hard and grab the ‘prize.’ However, when you look at it from the opposite point of view, you will see abundance and not scarcity. Collaborating will make it easier for you to get the coveted position. Working together has other benefits, too: creating a better workplace environment, developing relationships based on trust and dependence, and enjoying your work. 

Grow along with others 

I have mentioned above how the first generation of women leaders imitated their male counterparts in leading teams and delivering results. It was observed that the subsequent women leaders moved away from this practice and used their unique skills to motivate others. They are more empathetic, value work-life balance, focus on teamwork, nurture talents, and are strong communicators. Women leaders can handle crises well. They panic less and are good at multi-tasking. These qualities make women leaders more successful and contribute to the growth of organizations. Having leaders who collaborate will have a positive effect on the work culture. Companies that have more women leaders at the top have a positive brand image in the market too. 

Women supporting each other 

It sounds great to have friends at work, doesn‘t it! When you know you have someone to turn to or ask for advice, you become more self-dependent. Collaboration, a friendly atmosphere, and fewer gender gaps bring out the best in employees. So, start seeing the change when women supporting each other becomes more frequent and see how you move ahead towards your goal collectively. Bring about the change, be the change, and find the world changing around you! 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Beat the 4 factors which make many professionals leave their jobs

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decision-makin techniques article cover image

If you are working in an office environment, you will most likely agree that building a career is not just about expertise in your professional field. Personal and social skills increasingly weigh in.

We are working in teams and maintain sometimes virtual relationships with others across the pond. Additionally, various leadership styles influence the company culture differently.

We can all read about which leadership behaviours team members are looking for. When we building a career  all we want is 

– to be valued,

– have the opportunity to grow, and

– and to keep a healthy work-life balance.

According to a study involving 30 countries, the leadership practices of an effective leader include:

– Providing guidance and defining objectives

– Communicating the expectations often and with clarity

– Listening to ideas and new approaches

– Openness to change their minds

– Helping team members to grow

These leadership practices influence the areas, where leaders can fall short according to studies, including one summarised in the Harvard Business Review years ago. Such as not

– giving clear direction;

– securing time to meet employees;

– recognising progress and achievements, and taking credit for others’ work;

– offering constructive feedback or criticism.

Even though the study was concluded years ago, the progress has not much been visible in the recent years.

But how is this all related to building a career? Great question.

For one, you may also be a leader, perhaps in the near future.

The reason I decided to highlight these factors is that most of us start as team members and we develop our professional skills, meet the expectations of our leaders and do our work in the environment shaped by the leaders, too.

Being on the other end of

– the lacking attention, or

– favouritism,

– slogan culture, or

– lack of follow through on commitments or promises is not a pleasant place to be. Also, it won’t help building a career in any industry.

However, understanding the potential reasons for such behaviours can help you help your leader and yourself to move your career forward. Knowing the reasons, you will be able to decide on and implement a corresponding action.

Lack of attention and listening

How lack of attention can block building a career?

– The boss doesn’t talk to you often, or not at all. Yes, it is true, there are managers out there who prefer emailing or instant messaging to their team members instead of talking to them, even on the phone.

– Your line manager sparingly shares information relevant to your work with you.

– The line manager does not listen to your opinion.

– You receive new tasks one after another, but there is no recognition of the results.

Potential reasons your boss acts like this.

– Your boss does not understand what information you need to know.

– The line manager struggles to handle the complexity or the office politics around them, become overwhelmed and spend most of their energy to keep afloat.

– They feel more secure making the decisions themselves.

What you can do

You cannot change the political games or the complexity when you are building a career, but can reduce it at your level. If your boss needs support and you have the information and insight, your boss is going to listen. All you have to do is to make it relatable for your manager.

Many line managers choose to avoid risks. That includes giving a chance to their team members in high visibility projects. Naturally, ambitious professionals are hungry for such projects.

Get involved in smaller projects and prove yourself in the field, show your capabilities gradually to your boss.

Favouritism

How do you know your boss has favourites?

– One or some of the colleagues at work are subject to little or no scrutiny for their low or lower performance.

– Your boss does not comment on the lack of adherence to the dress code, or if one team member is late from work repeatedly, while others receive feedback.

– The best projects go to the same person or people again and again.

– There is an open-door policy for some.

– Professional development or participation in networking events are exclusive to some.

Potential reasons for favouritism

– There is a well-oiled machine already in place, a smaller group of team members have been working in the company for long together, the boss has not adapted to the new situation and did not figure out how to involve the new ones yet.

– Or there is a friendship or family ties between the boss and the “favourite”.

– Company culture allows it.

What you can do

In case you work in a culture which tolerates, or even encourages favouritism, the best is to decide whether you want to accept it or you look for another job.

If you join a team where members formed close relationships, there is a chance for you to integrate. Such a team proved the members can relate to each other. Once you learn the rules of the team, you can choose how to align to those informal rules and with time you are going influence the rules, too.

Family ties are different and even though sometimes family members might agree with each other to show care and keep the peace, no business owner works against their business and no manager prefers solutions that do not help them achieve their goals, so you have a good chance to convince them about your ideas and work toward the position you aim for.

Favouritism is one of the frequent reasons talented professionals leave teams and companies.

But the situation is not hopeless. If you decided to join a company, you most likely did not plan for two months and wanted to add and get value out of your time there.

– Concentrate on your performance and development. Do not let favouritism have a negative impact on you. Behave normally.

– Communicate both your results and your ambitions to your boss. Define what you want to achieve, so it becomes clear to both you and your boss what you are aiming for and working toward. This way it will all be measurable, and commitments will also be clear from the beginning.

– Build relationships. Leave your bitterness out of the equation because results will serve you, if not in that specific team, in another. Every effort you make is for your own good and professional progress. Read more about why supportive relationships are enablers to a more successful life.

Working in a slogan culture

What is a slogan culture?

Managers are using slogans in their communications more often than you would think.

To ensure people align with the business strategy, organisations introduce phrases to represent core messages. Such phrases can become slogans.

Add to this the slogans coming from the management literature and you will understand how difficult it is for professionals to avoid speaking in slogans.

Slogan culture is a step beyond repeating messages that flow top-down in the company. It means the organisation tolerates people repeating popular buzzwords and the lack of performance or low performance. Living on slogans has another impact. As a new idea comes along, another slogan becomes popular. The organisation can end up changing projects regularly and confusing people.

Potential reasons behind a company supporting buzzwords and failing to concentrate on results

Initially, I must tell you that no business can survive on buzzwords.

Perhaps, particular teams or leaders tolerate one or more individuals to keep afloat parroting for a while, however such a behaviour has an expiry date. Falling numbers surface rapidly.

Slogan culture can find roots in a team because of leadership behaviours. As a root cause, there is potentially a disconnect between the company strategy and execution, or the company is not clear on the direction, or its place on the market.

What you can do

– Find the core message behind the buzzwords and act according to the spirit of the messages. There will be mentors who look for the performance.

– Be yourself and think about your long-term goals. You are not a leaf flying in either direction depending on the wind. Flexibility is important because there will be changing priorities. But a business’s direction does not change monthly. Look for the patterns.

– Buzzwords have a place in communications but not in the world of actions. Action means, there is a tangible outcome. Go for achieving results and making an impact.

– Remember, if your gut tells that you are a misfit, you are one for sure. Think about alternatives.

Failing to follow through

Lack of proof of performance

That becomes most visible. Lack of results or the outcome coming together slowly. You can also recognise there are many projects running parallel without even one showing results.

Team members talk a lot about such projects, one meeting follows another but there is no output. There is no measurement of the progress or definition of quality and expectations.

People do not feel inspired even though the atmosphere is pleasant.

You want to proceed but there is always another hoop to jump through. Decision making is slow. Even though slow decision making is not a direct cause of the lack of follow through, it can suggest people in the organisation struggle to take risks and responsibility. In such an environment, delayed tracking of progress appears more often.

Potential causes of not following through

– Lack of direction from the leadership and lack of attention to running the business overall.

– The business is performing really well because it has a superb product or service offering and operational problems are not efficiently handled because the focus is on sales.

– They do not motivate your line manager or the supervisory layer of the organisation to drive performance.

– Your manager, potentially most of the leaders are so overloaded with work, they cannot simply follow up on everything.

What you can do

– Concentrate on your performance, your deadlines, and your delivery. You work for your own progress and not to please your boss.

– If your boss is not motivated, find out how you can help them find that mojo again. Of course, it is not your responsibility to motivate your line manager, but helping them will help you, too. Also, think about your motivation, so you can avoid burnout.

– Find other mentors in the organisation and align yourself with high performers.

From the above you see, there is no limit to your progress when you building a career. Once you are clear on the problem, you can decide on the action and will find a solution. Show tenacity and you will succeed.

Click to read more about how women keep their career on track.

8 Careers at Which Extroverts Excel

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8 career paths for extroverts

When thinking about the career paths for extroverts, you must consider your academic qualifications, the compensation you are seeking, and the future job outlook for your chosen career. Most people forget your personality is always a consideration. 

It is very important for you to consider whether you are an introvert or an extrovert when thinking about choosing a career path. To find out click here: How different personality types can help you be more successful.

This will get you a career that fits and one in which you will not only be comfortable but also excel.

Career experts indicate the level of confidence you have at your job affects your productivity and your satisfaction at the job. Good career paths for extroverts would be where they must interact regularly with the public. Outgoing people can give speeches and network with other business professionals. Introverts are much more comfortable with solitary positions that keep them out of the public eye.

The following is a list of 8 career paths for extroverts.

1. Event Planner

Event planners are responsible for organizing events. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the entire event from conception to clean-up and conclusion. They make various events happen, including corporate conferences, weddings, celebrity shows, and meetings. In addition, they coordinate with many other professionals from hospitality and transportation, among others, to make the event fruitful. It is the job of the event planner to talk to their clients and get a picture of the expectations they have for the event. It is then the planner’s job to bring that vision into reality.

Once the event is in motion, an event planner has a lot of coordination to do to make sure all the guests are taken care of during the event. Food, music, and equipment are a few things event managers must oversee during events. Therefore, this job is ideal for extroverts because it requires extensive contact with the public. Furthermore, extroverts are also better at negotiating with clients and vendors to make sure the event goes off without a hitch.

2. Public Relations Specialist

As the name suggests, the work of the public relations specialist is to mend or preserve the image that the public has about an individual or organization. It is their aim to ensure the public has the best image of the client. They do this through media and communications. Public relations specialists may work in the government, the financial sector, healthcare facilities, or any other industry that focuses on presenting a positive public image.

You can tell this job has a lot of interactions with different people from diverse backgrounds. This can be well done by extroverted people, owing to their ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups of people. This can be a good career choice for you if you are an extrovert.

3. Human Resources Specialist

The human resource department deals directly with company/employee relations. They do all the hiring and terminations. They manage any employee benefit or retirement programs. If an employee must be reprimanded, it’s the human resources department that handles it. The experts in this field play an important role in running the company or the organization. Since they deal with people, extroverts are the best fit for this job. They can apply their ability to communicate to understand the best candidates for job placements. They can also communicate well with employees, owners, and managers.

4. Teacher

It is important to be able to establish a connection to people if you are in the teaching field.  This is the one thing that extroverts are good at. Extroverts make great teachers because of their ability to communicate information and ideas to students. If you want a career where you can show off your personality, teaching may be ideal for you.

5. Nurse

The primary trait nurses exhibit is the ability to interact with and ensure the comfort of their patients. It is their responsibility to give care to patients, not only in hospitals but also in many other places. You can make a good nurse if you are outgoing and ready to initiate communication.

6. Financial advisor

The financial sector is one of the great career fields for extroverts to work. Working as a financial advisor, you must have a thorough understanding of the finance industry. This includes understanding how investments, taxes, and insurance work. If they do not have a thorough understanding of the industry, they cannot effectively advise clients. Their works involves working closely with clients and managers to explain their findings and advise appropriately. Good communication and the ability to answer questions are some skills required here, besides having analytical capabilities and being good with numbers.

7. Physical Therapist

This job involves working with patients whose sickness or injury has made them less mobile. A physical therapist is trained to help patients restore movement and reduce the pain they feel. It can take significant time to achieve this goal; they must be able to relate with their patients first. This is important since the patients can be different ages. Unless you are good at breaking the ice, you cannot be a good physical therapist.

8. Lawyer

Do you have a passion in legal matters and believe you can argue your points effectively? If you are an extrovert, then becoming a lawyer should be among your career choices. Your work would include representing organizations, government agencies, businesses, or individuals in a court of law. You will give your clients legal advice when they need it. You also must be prepared to defend clients in court if they face prosecution or need to sue someone. Extroverts make great lawyers.

There are a wide range of career paths for extroverts. They can fit in the most sought-after fields of medicine, finance, communication, law and many others. Because they are good at handling themselves in public and have excellent interpersonal communication skills, they can quickly adapt to most social situations; this helps them advance more quickly in their chosen career fields. Before choosing any jobs above ask these 8 Questions to ask yourself to know which career fits.

If you’re an extrovert share with us which career field did you find your job? How being an extrovert helps you to excel in this field? Leave your reply below.

Curious about jobs for different personality types? Read 11 Top Jobs for Introverts.

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

3 Things That Might Hold You Back

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3 things that might hold you back

3-min read

Looking at successful people around you may make you wonder whether you are on the right track. However if you spend too much time pondering over your past failures it may paralyse you. Find out three ways how you can increase your self-confidence.

Find ways how to avoid things that hold you back

Making a couple of good moves may be easy but repeating success poses a series of whole new challenges. Looking at all those successful people around you may make you wonder whether you are on the right track.

Such thoughts are beneficial when it comes to checking on your progress and the overall direction of your life, but if you spend too much time pondering over your past failures or actions you label as failures, you might find yourself in the passive zone.

The passive zone is a period in your life, which might last hours or days, even weeks or months, and during that time you slow down; or even worse the fear that you cannot meet the expectations will paralyse you. 

What are these things that hold you back?

You probably failed in the past in a particular field, or someone told you that you failed.

When it comes to failure, it is better to step back a little and think about what failure means to you. Some see failure as a dreadful thing and associate the lack of success with it; and while this is partly right, failure itself can be rewarding, too.
What is this crazy article talking about, right?

Situations in which we don’t entirely achieve what we set out for ourselves are often excellent learning opportunities. If you take the time thinking about your situation and what exactly happened, you will undoubtedly find things that worked well and some that didn’t.

Let’s see an example:

You attend the job interview and you don’t get the role. In black and white, it is a failure. You needed a job, you had the chance to present your fitness for the position, and you didn’t get the role. Straightforward failure. Or is it?

Think about the whole process:

  • Did you update your CV and did you include the relevant skills and experiences?
  • How did you prepare for the interview?
  • Did you do your research about the company?
  • Can you remember the great and the less pleasant moments of the conversation?
    If so, you can pinpoint when it didn’t work out so well.

People around you are telling you that you are not capable of accomplishing what you set out for yourself.

That is an interesting one because for that they must be in your shoes and they must live your life. Do they now?

Furthermore, they have to know you better than you know yourself. While there are people who have very little self-awareness, I don’t assume you are one. In fact, there is a tiny to zero chance that you are one. Do you know why? Because you are reading this article.

So why do these people tell you that you are not capable?

  • They might not have a good view of your situation.
  • They don’t know you very well yet.
  • They wouldn’t be able to successfully deliver in a similar situation and assume you wouldn’t be able to do that either.
  • They are worried about you because they think your goal is a considerable undertaking.
  • They underestimate you.
  • They are jealous.

These are just a couple of examples, but I am sure you get the picture. People around you may have several reasons to tell one thing or another, and it is up to you whether you let their opinion influence you and these things that hold you back. Find out here How do people drag you down? 

Your Fears

You don’t take on a new responsibility at your job because you fear you won’t meet the expectations. Question is whether you really know what the expectations are, or you assume what the expectations would be.

You would be surprised just how many times people assume certain things. They look at someone’s face or try to interpret their gestures; they don’t ask for performance indicators or success factors.

Take time and figure out where your fear is coming from, understand the aspects of your concern. Get to know your fear before you decide facing it.

Yes, the final step is facing your fear. Now, if you think about holding a spider in the palm of your hand; that is not what I meant.

Once you understand your fear and where it is coming from, you will be able to handle it, because you will be able to see the root cause and deal with it; and once you dealt with the root cause itself, the fear will fade away. Leave behind the things that hold you back and harness the Benefits of believing yourself.

Photo from Unsplash

3 Methods successful women follow to keep their career on track

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methods successful women follow

We bring many habits and beliefs from our childhood, but it would be a mistake to believe that only those beliefs influence us, even at later stages in our lives. There are good practices we can learn from successful women who already made it.

 

 

Also worth to check these 9 Ways to improve your self-discipline.

Some grow up in a family where setting goals is a natural part of kids’ lives from their early age, while other parents let their kids discover the way of planning their life and tasks on their own. One method may work as good as the other.

We bring many habits and beliefs from our childhood, but it would be a mistake to believe that only those beliefs influence us, even at later stages in our lives. There are good practices we can learn from women who already made it.
Let’s see a couple of examples:

Plan your life as you would plan a project in your work.

When you are working on a project in your job, you need to plan resources, assess risks, consider limitations and make sure the project is going to deliver the benefits you or your stakeholders expect.

  • Why would you accept anything less?
  • Why would you care any less when it comes to your life?

If you think about your career as a journey from the “Where have you been” through the “Where you are at the moment” on your way to the “Where you should be”, you are going to focus on what positions, tasks, experiences and skills take you there. And that is precisely the focus you need.

Fear not to say no

Over your lifetime many opportunities will come your way. Some will look particularly great, while others you need to let go.

You heard the word “no” many times in your life but when it comes to saying it to someone else, especially to a person who may be able to influence how your career develops, saying no might not be the most natural thing to do. We are all inclined to say yes now and then; when we should say no.

Think about it that way, every time you say yes when you should say no, you take time and opportunity away from yourself. Every time you say no you create space for something that works for you better.

Work with mentors

Setting goals is easy when you have a clear idea of what you want and a sense of purpose, but it becomes slightly fuzzy when you are not sure what direction to take. If you are in this situation right now, just know that you are not alone. Many people, at some point in their lives, will reach a turning point when they realise they have to change their ways.

Our parents or grandparents had probably worked for the same company for decades, while changes these days are constant in the majority of business sectors; and professionals need to adopt new practices more often than not. Whenever a change, affecting your career progress happens, it also creates an opportunity to think about your life overall.

In the middle of changes and the daily grind, your ability to see the bigger picture is different, and it is advised that you find a mentor who either had a similar situation in her or his life or has already achieved what you want to accomplish.

Ways how self-awareness helps your career progress

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how self-awareness can help your career article cover image

Why you are the best person to improve self-awareness

Some believe that self-awareness is the most important skill when it comes to building a successful professional career. On the other hands others may tell you that self-awareness is somewhat superficial, and you need to have a solid education and professional skills to make it in the world of work.

Even though there is an increasing number of articles and sources that provide you with information about self-awareness, it still might be slightly challenging to grasp the true meaning of it.

Finding a definition is quite easy but to understand how self-awareness works and more importantly how it helps your career progress may be a challenge.

Why is it a challenge?

I believe it is because understanding any concept is only the first step. Applying the knowledge and integrating habits that help self-growth can then follow.

First, let’s see what self-awareness is.

According to the Oxford Dictionaries, it is a “Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.”

After reading this definition, it is easier to understand how self-awareness affects career and career progress. Think about the time when you started your career and be very honest.

  • How much was your first job a conscious choice?
  • How much did you consider your strengths and weaknesses when you sent out your job applications for the first time?

Majority of young people try to grab a job opportunity as soon as they can to start their career. So, don’t feel bad if you were not super conscious about your career choices back then.

I think I am right to assume though that, with time, your choices have been more about taking advantage of your skills and talent. As you matured, you focused on building a career that gave you the opportunity to expand either vertically or horizontally. Whenever you switched jobs, you were looking for something else, a new challenge.

You listened to your motives and desires and shaped your job search accordingly.

While this was undoubtedly your self-awareness in motion, you may ask yourself a question whether there were or there are other areas where your self-awareness could give you a competitive edge. And the answer to this question is a definite yes.

Regardless of the industry you are working in, or your professional field, no work can be done alone without the support of and contribution from others. To get that, you need to have social skills and the foundation of all success in any social environment is self-awareness.

Let’s just see a couple of examples, think about your work environment and job.

  • What makes you feel stressed?
  • What leaves you feeling depleted?
  • How do you respond to authority?
  • With what type of leadership style do you work best together?
  • How do you deal with criticism?
  • What is your number one conflict resolution tactic?

This isn’t me, but what is me then?

From the above questions you can see that without being self-aware you are not able to answer such question. Furthermore, without being self-aware, your choices around which company or team to join may leave you with disappointment.

Just by answering these questions, you will have a clear picture of what environment you would like to work in. In addition, you will see what type of work gives you inspiration and satisfaction. No one else can make these choices for you and although getting paid is great but getting paid for a job you don’t enjoy may be miserable. Check these techniques to help advance your career.

So, even if you think self-awareness is not the most important thing when building your career, I am sure you agree that it has such a high impact that you cannot ignore developing it.

Cover photo by Laura Dewilde on Unsplash

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5 ways to get helpful feedback

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2-min read

Receiving helpful feedback is useful for career progression in a world where women are taking up challenging responsibilities in professional and regular jobs. 

Getting valuable feedback can help to build your self− confidence in a demanding work environment. What does it take to be confident?

Here are five ways to get helpful feedback to tune you up for success.

Ask for honest feedback in a friendly way

Not many people take honest feedback kindly, and people around you are aware of this. Most people feel it is better to keep their opinion to themselves than poke the beehive for God knows how many stings they will get. But usually, lack of self− confidence and fear of the unknown make people not want to receive honest feedback from colleagues and individuals around them. To get honest feedback, you need to summon up the courage and ask for it but, when doing that, make it less formal; be friendly when asking.

Admit you are not perfect and ask what you can do for the future

Career progression, admittedly, is an important part of our work life, and it is more about what happens in the future than now. However, you will not be able to create your future without acting now.

When asking for feedback, explain why it would be helpful to you if they could tell you what you can do better going forward and that you appreciate them being honest with you and taking the time to share their genuine feeling.

Ask again until they are open to share, but don’t be pushy

The work environment can be sensitive, and everyone is careful not to take the wrong step. This job environment attitude might get in the way of getting helpful feedback. After you asked for honest feedback the first time, listen to it, act on it and don’t hesitate to ask again after a reasonable period of time.

Let people around you know they are welcome to give you their honest feedback without backlash. Show them more self− confidence and readiness to take in their real and friendly view of your activities and solutions.

If you have just given a presentation at a meeting, ask what you could have added to make your presentation better? Try to get a specific answer because, the more specific the feedback is, the easier it is for you to improve your presentation skills.

Call for anonymous feedback

If you are working in an environment where openly providing feedback is not a natural part of the ways of working, you can ask people to drop it anonymously, even as a note, or they can do it using any means possible to get to you. You can ask for an anonymous feedback face to face or in a meeting where the opinions of those who matter are all present.

Create a comfortable environment when listening to feedback

Prepare yourself to be able to listen to the information, learn as much as you can from it and, in the meantime, show that you are interested in hearing more.

Jot down the points when they are talking and don’t interrupt unless there are specific things you would like to see more clearly for the proper understanding of the feedback. You will experience that the person giving you the feedback will also feel more relaxed sharing their opinions with you.

Whatever position you are working in, receiving helpful feedback is a building block to your success, and you cannot afford to let it slip off your fingers. If you want to get positive feedback, check these 5 Ways how you can use relaxation and visualisation to help advance your career.

 

Cover photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

8 Questions to ask yourself to know which career fits

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which career fits for you? Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions we make in our lives. This is because the job we select will have a great impact on everything, both present and future. 

This includes our own health, lifestyle and interactions with family. Your job also becomes part of your identity so, in a way, you are choosing who you want to be when you are selecting a career. You want to make sure your choice reflects you and fits your personality. To get good knowledge on your personality type, check How different personality types can help you be more successful. The good news is that you can start with some soul− searching plus research to help you gain clarity on what you want. This article will focus on the questions you can ask yourself to help you make the big decision.

What are your interests?

Do you prefer working with numbers and data, people, abstract ideas, or a combination of some sort? What subjects are you most interested in? Which books do you read? Where do you spend most of your time? Do you like to work indoors or outdoors? Such questions are aimed at understanding your interests. These are the people, things and the information that you enjoy most. It is proven that people tend to gravitate around their interests and, if you can find a way of incorporating the same in your career, then you will be doing what you love. There is no doubt that those who enjoy what they do feel more fulfilled in their jobs. There are aptitude tests available that you can take that can help you sort out the kind of career that will suit you best.

Determine what your values are and consider them

Values are your principles and standards; the things that you consider important in your life. Your career satisfaction also depends on your values and how your values and the job environment relates and, as such, it is important to take your time to consider them when trying to find a job that fits. If you value finances, find a job that pays well. If you love spontaneity and fun, then a desk job may not be the right choice for you. Also, if you love children then maybe teaching is a good route to take. While some jobs will require teamwork, others promote independent contributions from employees. Be sure to have well− defined values and find a job where you will be able to find satisfaction working every day.

What is your personality?

It is prudent to consider your personality traits when making a career choice. Try to relate to the career you want to pursue and try to choose a position that suits your personality. Think about your personality by asking yourself the following questions: are you an extrovert or an introvert? Would you rather lead other people, help other people, or not work with other people at all? Do you like abstract thinking or do you prefer to work with concrete concepts or materials? If you choose a career that fits with your innate personality, you will find greater enjoyment at work. To erase your concerns click here.

What skills do you possess?

Try making a list of all your skills. Now make a list of skills you perform poorly at or dislike. You can use these lists to help you find a career that can utilise your skillset. Avoid career choices that involve those tasks you dislike or cannot do effectively. If you are confident in your ability to complete your job duties, you will have more confidence and more job satisfaction.

What are your strengths and talents?

There is a relationship between your talents and your strengths. Strength is your ability to provide high performance in a specific activity consistently. Talents are naturally recurring thoughts, feelings or behaviours you can productively apply. Talent, knowledge and your skills, along with the time you spend on practising, developing your skills and building your knowledge, serve to create your strengths. Look at careers that utilise your strengths.

What training do you need?

You might have already decided a specific career path that you would like to take. Your next step will be to identify the kind of education or training you will require. It could include additional schooling, licensing, or getting a certification of some sort before you can legally work in the field you have selected. Think about the amount of time it will take for you to finish the training and the money you will have to invest in it as well.

What are your financial needs?

While it is not smart to look at the salary you want to earn as the first thing to consider when choosing a career, it should be one of the factors. The high paying jobs usually require a lot more education or experience, it takes time to get them and, in most cases, the opportunities may be limited. If you want to make a lot of money, be ready to do what it takes. Other careers may have fewer financial rewards but, based on your personality, skills and interests, they may be more suitable for you. Planning will help you make informed decisions and avert future regrets.

What is the availability of the jobs?

The fact that you would like to pursue a given career is not enough to make you go for it. Ask yourself if there are jobs available in your region or if you are ready to move for the suitable job. You can do this by researching the labour market both locally and internationally. Some may argue that the job market should not be a factor to consider, but nobody wants to spend years of schooling only to find out that the profession you have been focussed on is outdated or lacks opportunities.

Knowing which career fits to you is not simple. It is a decision that will affect you for the rest of your life. Consider your options carefully. Determine your strengths and weaknesses. Choose something that you will be good at and something that will make you happy at the same time.

Cover photo by Zach Lucero on Unsplash