The Fix for Growth for Women in Career

There is a need to Change the Outdated Thought and Behavioural Patterns.

Believe me when I say change begins with you. The excuse is that it’s already so late, “I only have a few more years to work”, and accepting things the way they are doesn’t work. Do you want to teach your sons and daughters the same, too? Even if you teach them modern ways of thinking, they will question why you don’t follow them. So, trying to break these patterns today is better late than never. Here’s how you can do it:

At home:

●?????? Whether you are currently working or not, choose to explore your hobbies and passions. Upgrade yourself on a daily basis, not once a week or month, but DAILY. Our holy books respect women at the highest level, but some of us misunderstand the care given by females as their duty and men’s right to demand. Some accept their childhood learning and experiences as life’s facts, which creates more barriers while taking action. Growth can only be achieved by improving yourself and knowing whether what you think or how you behave is being driven by your need to sacrifice and please others or to please yourself. While it is good to please those you love, it must not be done at the cost of your own happiness or your dreams. So start choosing yourself more often, building your self-confidence and self-worth. Start questioning your upbringing: Is it favoring you or only others? Read more and build self-awareness to upgrade your mindset, thoughts, and actions.

●?????? Our upbringing and society have taught us always to bow down and blame ourselves even though we might not be wrong. So be aware of the words you choose to talk to yourself, especially when you are self-criticizing. Talk to yourself in a positive way. This will build inner strength so that this dirt of negativity becomes minuscule, and your soul is at peace even if people in your environment are filthy.

●?????? Do not let people run over you or interrupt you at home. Be very firm in your communication and express that you do not support wrong behaviors, along with the need to correct them.

●?????? Express your needs when they are not being met and request support and help when you are in a dilemma. There is a lot of learning behind building this resilient behavior; it may look snobbish to some people; however, with practice, you can learn to be at peace when you tune out others’ degrading opinions. If people at home are not willing to support you, figure out ways to delegate tasks at home. Every problem can be solved by shifting your thoughts from “It can’t be done” to “How can I get it done?”.

●?????? Assign special family time and be intentionally present so that people at home feel like you are not ignoring them to build your career and that you care for them, too. If your work interrupts your family time, make up for it whenever possible. Here are some good practices you can adopt at home:

●???? Schedule family time to discuss any issue at hand,

●???? Share your work experiences with family to let them feel inclusive,

●???? Express your limitations, if any, in handling chores alone and seek their help,

●???? Clarify doubts about family in regard to your work profile and

●???? Inform your spouse if you face any uncomfortable situation with any colleague and brainstorm ways to handle it.

●???? Keep your body posture and face positive and smiling so that your family welcomes your professional career.

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At the workplace: For a woman to be taken seriously, the steps to prevent and correct skepticism in roles need to be taken by leaders, workplace allies, and women themselves. Based on my personal experience, here are a few tips that can help:

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●???? Manage your time efficiently with the use of the Pomodoro technique, where you work continuously for, say, 45-minute time intervals followed by a 15-minute break. You can also segment tasks by creating a to-do list for several blocks of your day. For example, divide your morning half into two parts of personal first and then professional tasks having exercise, meditation, reading, and priority work completion and your evening half into two parts of professional first and then personal tasks for completing the other important office work, preparation for next day, house chores and family time.

●???? Set clear expectations at home and work that can be delivered. Overburdening can kill the whole essence of being professional, and you can be stressed and messed up.

●???? Choose an organization with clear and set norms for equality. Usually, the leadership team takes the responsibility of identifying the employee as a professional, not a female or male.

●???? When needed, clearly identify yourself with your position/role in meetings. This asserts you in a position of power and your need for correct representation. In case others mistake your role, if you are in a position to speak, ask your coworker to correct your role’s identification.

●???? You may find customers, colleagues, and bosses often act as ingrained stereotypes, so you must act tactfully. You can initially show empathy and respect and communicate your viewpoint by choosing the right moment.

●???? To gain management’s confidence, you may need to strive a little harder than men, as stereotypes and thought processes do not accept women as leaders. You need to take calculated risks with mindful work and experience. Have a belief that nothing is impossible. Confidence and composed behavior are the keys to handling any situation.

There are solutions to every challenge we face. I am a strong believer in “Nothing is IMPossible”. Yes, if you read my statement again, it clearly defines, I am Possible. Life has all flavours, and one must learn to adapt. This is what I defined life and its challenges as. This belief in finding solutions can instil a sense of hope and optimism, making you feel more confident in your ability to overcome challenges.

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