What are some effective ways to help women advance in their careers?

The environment always wins. So if you work for a company that doesn't foster advancement for women, it doesn't matter what your goals are or who is your mentor, the odds are against you. Go somewhere you can thrive. Then the rest of this article applies.

Today, the most effective way for women to advance in their careers is to develop and demonstrate Business Intelligence (BQ). BQ encompasses the skills that are weighed as most important by executives when it comes to advancing talent - from middle management into higher levels of leadership. Those skills are business, strategic, and financial acumen. On average, men continue to outrank women in BQ skills as reported by superiors. So, if your leadership training is missing BQ, it's likely focusing on areas where women already outperform male peers, skills like communications, team building, authenticity, building relationships with stakeholders/clients, etc.

Toda mulher necessita ser encorajada a buscar melhorias em sua carreira. O caminho é mais difícil eu entendo, mas sobretudo, seu espirito de luta e competências devem ser enaltecidos por aqueles a circundam sua vida. Muitas vezes todos os obstáculos s?o pequenos quando existem pessoas que nos ajudam a trilhar o caminho escolhido. A mulher que se posiciona como uma profissional competente e assim se mantém constante no avan?o de sua carreira obtêm êxito e reconhecimento legítimo. Mulher, lembre-se: Quanto maior for sua humildade neste caminho, melhor ser?o seus relacionamentos com pessoas fortes e menores ser?o seus conflitos neste universo empresarial.

Clarifying goals and values is crucial in career development. Assess passions, strengths, skills, and aspirations—both short-term and long-term. Define success and satisfaction for yourself. This introspection forms the foundation for aligning career aspirations with personal and professional values. Crafting a vision and plan based on these insights paves the way for a fulfilling and purpose-driven career trajectory.

Know your differentiators and what extraordinariness you bring to the work party. Understand what success looks like for you, you have a #50yearcareer and you don't need to squish everything into one decade. Know why you are fabulous, speak to others and gather evidence. You need some visibility, findability, credibility, likeability and trustability on LinkedIn, so write about your specialist subject and have some online and real life conversations. When you've landed the role and it's time to negotiate, practice with a mentor. Bon Career Voyage x

Women are usually over mentored and under sponsored, studies have found that the majority of men naturally tend to have sponsors, whereas women and those from underrepresented groups are less likely to have a sponsor. A mentor is someone who shares knowledge and provides guidance which is useful. However a sponsor is someone who actively promotes growth, provides access to opportunities at work, and/or advocates for career advancement of their sponsee, which is fundamental to career success.

There is often a lack of sponsorship within organisations. Find someone who can advocate for you and talk about you when you aren’t in the room where decisions are being made.

Mentors and sponsors significantly impact career growth. Mentors provide guidance and support, drawing on their experience, while sponsors advocate and create opportunities. Seek them within your organization, network, or industry. Engage in mentoring programs, professional groups, or online communities, especially those supporting women. Cultivating relationships with mentors and sponsors can offer invaluable guidance and open doors to advancement, enhancing your career journey.

In my experience guiding over 2,000 mid and senior level professionals, men tend to assume they will have coaching paid for by the company during on-boarding or a transition. They assume they will have support of mentors, allies, and coaches. And they don't see it as a weakness. The old boys' network is built on this mindset. Women tend to think that a mentor (unpaid) or a coach (paid) is something they need when they're underperforming or have a problem. They don't ask the organization to pay for it as frequently as men do and they don't invest in themselves by paying for it on their own. Countless studies show that top achievers not only have paid and unpaid mentors, but they talk with them on a regular basis.

Recruit from more diverse talent pools and succession shortlists that include women. Scrutinise job selection to educate leaders on the benefits of having diverse teams. Don’t tell women they lack confidence and need mentoring or sponsorship when the job vacancies are simply not there. Encourage all employees including women to push towards their goals and to be determined in their ambition to succeed. Above all, don’t treat women like a protected species - give them equal opportunity and consideration.

Women are often believers that they shouldn’t put themselves out there too much and recognition will come to good work on its own however it’s very important to share your story and perspective with the rest of the world and celebrate wins! All of it adds to your aura and brand and therefore helps develop a vibrant network.

If you want to reach a new audience and build connections it's good to do in-person networking. It's important to be strategic because time is precious so choose wisely the events and organisations you want to connect with. It may mean coming out if your comfort zone. Daunting but necessary.

Surrounding yourself by people who not only cheer you on but also can share their experience and be honest with you can be key to success. Search for that connection not only on professional but also human level.

Networking and personal branding are paramount for career progression. Networking fosters relationships, knowledge exchange, and access to opportunities. Personal branding showcases your value and expertise. Engage in events, online platforms, content creation, and discussions to build networks. Seek referrals to expand your connections. Cultivating a robust network and a strong personal brand enhances visibility, positioning you favorably for potential employment, clients, or partnerships, amplifying career prospects.

I have found utilising platforms like WhatsApp and social media are great tools for networking - these are especially useful tools if people don't have the time to do in person networking.

During my tenure with Infosys, Chennai - had negotiated with my Senior Architect for Performance rating of 4 = exceeds expectations while he maintained that I was at 3 = meets expectations. So, I had called for a discussion with Senior Architect and also the Project Manager to discuss the tasks I had led and accomplished which fell well into Architectural decisions, and a stretch of my role as a lead. The discussion ended with my rating enhanced to 4.

Negotiating and self-advocacy, often challenging for women due to societal norms or self-doubt, are vital for securing deserved recognition, compensation, and opportunities. Enhance these skills by researching market standards, preparing your case thoroughly, refining your pitch, and highlighting contributions. Overcome hesitation by confidently asking for what you deserve. Strengthening negotiation and advocacy skills empowers women to assertively claim their worth, contributing significantly to career growth and fair recognition.

Negotiating and advocating for yourself can be challenging, especially considering societal norms and self-doubt. Recognizing the importance of these skills is a pivotal step toward gaining the recognition, compensation, and opportunities you deserve. Research the market, meticulously prepare your case, practice your pitch, and confidently highlight your contributions. Remember, asking for what you want is not just acceptable but essential for your professional growth. By honing your negotiation and advocacy skills, you empower yourself to break through barriers and claim the opportunities that align with your worth and aspirations.

Women often hold back from negotiations when the skill comes naturally to them, they remain conscious of perceptions and the fear of being tagged as aggressive. Learn the skill, practice and don't worry about how / what people think of you. Focus on your objectives, ethics and power ahead!

Creo que el termine defenderse, es un poco violento. Me gustaría decir mejor: Posicionarse y defender una postular con conocimiento, pero estar abierta a nuevas metodologías. Dejando claro el punto de vista.

Embracing challenges, failures, and uncertainties is integral to career growth. Adopt a growth mindset, believing in improving abilities through effort and feedback. Seek feedback, acquire new skills, undertake challenging tasks, and explore new avenues. Viewing obstacles as opportunities for learning fosters resilience and personal development. Embracing challenges not only accelerates professional growth but also cultivates a mindset conducive to seizing new possibilities along your career journey.

Explorar nuevas áreas muchas veces nos suele a confundir y tener miedo, pero los cambios no son fáciles siempre, pero cuando se logran son maravillosos.

Pour relever les défis et apprendre en continu, vous devez avoir des aspects cruciaux de votre r?le dont ci-après quelques stratégies et attitudes clés à adopter : 1. Adopter une Mentalité de Croissance, 2. Accepter l'échec comme une Opportunité d'Apprentissage, 3. Promouvoir la Curiosité et l'Innovation 4. Recherche de Feedback Constructif, 5. Développement Personnel en Continu, 6. Encourager l'Apprentissage Collaboratif, 7. Fixer des Objectifs Clairs et Réalistes (SMART), 8. Gérer le Stress et l'équilibre Vie Professionnelle/Vie Privée, 9. Leadership Serviteur (Etre au service de son équipe), 10. être Résilient et Adaptable.

Como mamá y profesional no quiero perderme ninguna de las maravillas que implican ambas partes. Lamentablemente, a día de hoy hay empresas que aún no entienden el beneficio de tener madres en la plantilla. ?Por qué esto sigue pasando? Creo que en parte porque nosotras como mujeres todavía nos da pavor e incomodidad naturalizar ambos aspectos, hay un bias que nos bloquea. Por eso creo que es interesante e importante, detenerse y pensar en las cualidades y competencias que adquirimos cuando nos convertimos en mamá y cómo aplicar estas en el trabajo nos van a dar un empujón extra para sobresalir en vez de tirarnos abajo y pensarlo como una carga. Porque efectivamente, es todo lo contrario. Nos hace desarrollar nuevas habilidades.

Women in Asia in particular, are brought up to be selfless and modest since the childhood which poses a big hurdle in their career path. Working on being otherwise at workplace and also in personal life, will ensure fulfillment in life. And help avoid getting into shackles of the imposter syndrome.

Equilíbrio e jornada dupla..... é possível viver desta forma? Minha esposa se denomina como a "Mulher Bambu", aquela que enverga mais n?o quebra. Eu acredito que o ponto seja esse. Em seu processo de vida e inúmeras atividades você deve delegar parte do trabalho a aqueles que realmente podem te ajudar a obter esse objetivo. Blinde sua mente contra sentimentos de incapacidade e também das pessoas que n?o est?o na mesma "vibe" que você. Assim, seu parceiro(a), amigos e entes queridos estar?o empenhados e lhe auxiliar nesta busca. Carregar um fardo de 50kg sozinha por alguns metros é possível, mas, se alguém pegar em um dos lados para te auxiliar você vai bem mais longe. Delegue, pe?a ajuda e alcance aquilo que tanto busca.

Stop waiting to be perfect, and give yourself permission to go after the next challenge or opportunity that deep down you know you’re capable of doing better than others.

The major thing most women miss out on is the choice they need to make in their career. Most of the time situations play a role in our life. We need to be above our situation and make the choice of moving forward in life, especially in career. Balancing yourself is much needed, you daughter or son will see and learn from you to never give up on ambitions and yet the same time being brave to take the steps in career. So you have to right to choose who you want to be.

I believe all these tips are relevant both for men and women. What I see that can add a special value for women in their career is to find someone who mentors or who inspires them as a woman who nailed it already. Leading with example is a true inspiration and help.

Focus on investing in yourself first & building portfolio (proof) of what you can do. This way, we're not giving other people reason to 'judge' based on gender, yet we can show our unique strength of someone's more nurturing / caring / other-traits that proven by experience / portfolio.

As a career consultant, I believe that women can excel in their careers by starting with clear goals. Assess your strengths and actively seek feedback to refine them. Continuously develop new skills relevant to your aspirations. Secure both a mentor for guidance and a sponsor for advocacy in your professional sphere—volunteer for special projects to showcase your capabilities beyond your current role. Remember, your potential is your power. Assertively advocate for yourself and your achievements. Expand your network, connecting with like-minded professionals. Finally, build a personal brand that resonates with your professional ethos. These strategic steps pave your path to success.