Maybe I’m just looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, but I like to think this world is fair. I like to think that human beings are mature, have good common sense, and like to treat the people they work with an amount of understanding and fairness that everyone should have. I believe this should be true regardless of race, gender, or any other personal preference or actuality.
“Did you see Bob? He’s playing Tetris again. Time to NetMeeting his computer during the next All-Hands.”
But I see it otherwise nowadays. There are still “good old boy” systems out there that make career development especially difficult for women. This is a very unfortunate thing, but I want to help you prepare for the bumps that might be ahead. This is your time to champion those opportunities and take care of yourself, your family, and your future.
Number One, Assertiveness Is Important
Being a doormat will never work for anyone, especially a woman in an industry or company that is especially male-heavy. It’s a sad thing to say, but systems that are in place are extremely difficult to change, so you’ll have to work within the boundaries if you plan to work them out. In order to do that, you need to stand up for what is right at all times.
No guard should be let down, especially yours. There are training courses out there that are available for assertiveness, but chances are you can find a female mentor above you that’s willing to give you the gist of it all. She’ll be able to help you learn what you need to do to get done in the particular company or industry that you’re in to be successful. Seek them out.
Number Two, A Sponsor May Be Necessary
And there’s your sponsor once you find that mentoring, more-experienced person. These people have been through the wringer, probably for many years. And if they’re not gone yet, obviously they’ve figured it out and have greater advancement in mind. These are the people you need to work hand-in-hand with to figure out what your next step is, whether that’s internal or external.
These are the people that will help you build the proper defenses and know how to work best with the people that are out there. You come to work to work, and don’t need to deal with any of that other stuff that might make this path more difficult. Your sponsor will be a great help here.
Number Three, Seek And Be The Best
Seek out projects. Seek out brainstorming activities. Seek out process improvement. And seek out any above and beyond things that you can do to prove that you’re worth every effort that you put in. Now you may not be recognized for everything.
You may get stiffed here and there while you’re learning how to be more assertive, but the point is, you’re being visible, you’re keeping a detailed track record, and you’re building skills for whatever your next move is. Don’t be so much attached to what the bigwig person is thinking. Be attached to what you’re getting out of it and where you’re going from here.
You Are Woman, It’s Time to Roar!
It’s a disappointing realization, but career development for women is quite a bit different than what I’m used to. In order to overcome certain systems that are in place that are unfair, women need to learn to be more assertive, to seek out helpful sponsors, and to always do what’s best for their own interest and future. One day, hopefully, this article will be completely useless because things are fair and awesome. For now, do what’s best for you. Find your strengths, work to them, and look for a brighter future.