10 Practical Tips For Women In The Corporate World

When Sheryl Sandberg wrote Lean in, she laid bare her vulnerabilities too. Women across the world could identify with her struggle to become the woman she is today. While Sandberg is among the minority of women who made it to the top, not everyone's journey yields those results. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, although 47 percent of the US labour force is women, only 4.8 percent women make it to the Fortune 500 CEO positions. And that's a huge difference. There are a lot of things that don't seem to be working for women.

I wrote a post of some basic tips here but thought of a few more important things that you can do as a woman to succeed in the corporate world:

1. Speak up during meetings: Even Sandberg confessed that she was initially scared of speaking up in meetings. It is even more daunting if the room is full of men. Men generally have dominant body language and can be heard above the din around. But women need to make an effort. Make it! A few things that can help you are:

• Get to the meeting early
• Find a seat where all the action is likely to happen
• Sit in power pose during the meeting
• Use (practice beforehand) an assertive tone that everyone can hear

2. Continue speaking: Did you know that women are interrupted twice as much as men by both men and women! So speaking up in a meeting is not the end of the battle. You need to get the speaking baton back from the interrupters - mostly men - and forge ahead with your ideas. Within a few seconds of being interrupted, thank the interrupter for "adding" to what you were just saying and complete what you have to say.

3. Upgrade yourself: Knowledge is an important currency in today's times. And with convenient online options to enhance skills and earn new certifications, make sure that you stay ahead of the curve. This is one of the ways to ensure that people come to you for your expert knowledge and don't pass off your ideas as their own.

4. Don't wait around: It is a well known fact that women underestimate themselves all the time. And men grab at opportunities even if they feel they are kind of ready. And this makes a huge difference over a 30 year career.

Don't wait around

Don't wait for people to realise your worth and pick you up for projects. Don't sit back when assignments are being handed out. Don't be coy and humble. Go all out and propose your name. Push down on self doubts and think of all the amazing accomplishments you have achieved over the years.

5. Get out of your comfort zone: The next logical step is to create opportunities that you think you deserve. You might have put forth ideas but no one acted on it. Initiate that process if you think it is worth your time. Come up with solutions to problems and offer to head the task force that implements it.

6. Ask - When it doubt, always ask! A raise that you think you deserve. Someone you want to be your mentor. The seat at the table. Feedback after the presentation. Any new projects you can use your skills and expertise for. Take that initiative. Like I said, don't wait around.

When it doubt, always ask!

7. Find a mentor: It isn't easy but be on the lookout. Someone you look up to and can trust. Someone who doesn't have to be like you but can share his/her wisdom and knowledge about surviving in the corporate jungle. Be open minded. As Condolezza Rice famously said,

"If I had been looking for a black, female, Soviet specialist role model, I’d still be looking"

8. Don't be the "office mom": If you remember everyone's birthday, if you volunteer to organise coffee for meetings, if you are the one who clears clutter in the break room, if you are the first aid kit of the company and if people naturally expect you to note the minutes of the meeting - you are the office mom! Consider this piece of information about "office housework" from the Opinion piece on NYT written by Sandberg and Adam Grant:

For staying late and helping, a man was rated 14 percent more favorably than a woman. When both declined, a woman was rated 12 percent lower than a man. 

And let me warn you that it is proven research that when men do extra work, they do it in public and get credit for it. When women do the same, they do it in private and don't bring it to anyone's notice. Think about it! Is it worth your time? Are you going to get credit for staying late making copies for tomorrow's meeting? Is it your job to keep the stationery closet in apple pie order? Here are a few things to try:

• Say No. Give reasons why you wouldn't be able to make copies of the meeting agenda and place it on everyone's desk - probably you are busy with your presentation for that very meeting
• Don't take clutter personally. If you are a super neat person, leave that OCD at home. At the workplace, everyone is an equal and responsible for keeping the place clean
• Don't get saddled in the first place. If possible, don't get into the meeting planning committee or start making fresh pot of coffee in the first place - because it'll help others or label you as helpful

9. Support other women: This is one of the most important ways in which we can help our women co-workers. If you are in a position to make things happen, take advantage of it. Mentor 2 women and encourage them to take up 2 more in their turn. Speak up and applaud other women who do the same. If a woman is interrupted by a man, interject on her behalf till she feels confident to do it on her own.

Set a system by which everyone has to take turns at all housekeeping tasks

Set a system by which everyone has to take turns at all housekeeping tasks - write minutes of the meeting or order food or be in-charge of the birthday cake for the next team celebration. Recruit more women on the team - or at least ask to see as many resumes of women as you consider of men for a particular position.

10. Keep your "brag bag" ready: A term borrowed from author Peggy Klaus, your brag bag is a list of your accomplishments in your current job/your career. Women find it hard to talk about how great they are - something men have no problem doing - hence the brag bag. Write the things that you've been doing and how they helped the company. Keep this list handy and update it often. The brag bag will keep self doubt in check and also help you quickly justify why you are the most qualified to handle a particular assignment. Another big plus, it'll make appraisal meetings a breeze! All you'll need to do is pull out your bag!

This list of things that we can do is a long one. You can read a few more tips to stay ahead in the corporate world here

You can also head to my training blog on Soft Skills Studio. Soft Skills Studio was put together as a resource of information for people who want to improve their skills. It is also a training and coaching outfit passionate about skills training to make more employees more effective. If you are a corporate or an individual who wishes to take your skills to the next level, drop me a line and I'll get back to you.