There’s an old saying that women have to work twice as hard as men to get half as much. While this may have some truth to it, there are things that you may be doing –without realizing it– that limit your upward mobility at work.
Women have come a long way in the workplace. We have fought for the right to work alongside men, the right to be paid the same as them and the right to be treated with respect. There’s no reason why we can’t compete like a man. The question is: why don’t we?
Part of the answer lies in the fact that women unknowingly undermine their credibility and sabotage their careers. In other words, it’s not just the men in HR ruining our chance for a promotion; we do it to ourselves too.
If you find yourself repeatedly being skipped over for a promotion, the following top three mistakes that women make at work might help:
Working too hard
Women often complain that they do more work compared to other people. The truth is no one was ever promoted by hard work alone. According to Frankel, likeability, networking skills, and strategic thinking are some of the other factors needed to grow into a successful career. Instead of working hard all day, skipping lunch and breaks, give yourself permission to “waste” a little time. Spend at least five percent of your day building relationships.
Doing the work of others
Women tend to take responsibility for not only their work, but also the work of others. There’s only one problem with this: while we’re busy doing the grunt work, men are busy building their careers. Promotions are rewarded for a job done, not doing the job. Stop volunteering for low profile assignments. They won’t only zap your time, but also won’t improve your career. Try not to let others delegate their work to you. Practice saying “I’d love to, but I’m just swamped.” There’s no need to explain further. It’s their job, not yours.
Failing to capitalize on relationships
Men rely on relationships to open doors for them. Women view it as taking advantage of a friendship or business partner. You’d trust a referral from one of your business associates, then why wouldn’t the door swing the other way? When in doubt, ask permission to use a colleague’s name. For example, “I’m trying to set up a meeting with George Smith. Would it be all right if I mention that I know you?” See how easy that was?
This is very common in workplaces that are very manly in nature such as architecture. It’s good to prove yourself worthy to gain respect.
Big companies are usually the ones that do these kinds of stuff. They tend to prefer one gender from another.
These are the things that you really need to consider if you are a woman in the workplace.
Things like this begin with how you position yourself in the society/company. If you allow yourself to be treated as a lesser sex, then you’re promoting the inequality yourself. Start with yourself and people will look at you differently. Be proud of being a woman. Work proud. Your success is measured by what you do, not by your gender.
We all voice out equality but there are still others who believe that they are the lesser sex.
Our HR before was a woman. What I couldn’t understand was that she fails to see the value in her women co-workers. There was a time that she promoted a guy that truly didn’t deserve the promotion. She based everything in the guy’s charisma. He was always talking big compared to that co-worker of mine who valued integrity and wasn’t too vocal. The job he was promoted in didn’t even require such skills. I felt bad for my woman co-worker that deserved the position more. Women shouldn’t put each other down. Although it also shouldn’t be a basis that women should favor women. It just needs to have a proper basis!
Helpful post. Women are such amazing creatures and some fail to realize that.
I had an experience before that I was skipped in a promotion that I knew I deserved. It was given to a co-worker of mine who was slacking half of the t ime but kissing the boss’ ass was his part time job. I resigned. Not because I accepted my defeat. I left because I knew I deserved a better place in a company that can appreciate what I can offer.
We are as credible as men. We are charming without even trying! ?
Women are such amazing beings. It all starts from those working single mothers that can be both a mother and a father. In the workplace, it is no different. Let’s not take care of babies in the workplace though, they are all adults!!!
Truly there is no reason why we can’t compete like a man. Time to re-evaluate your position in your workplace!