What is Stopping Latinas from Climbing the Ladder.?

Author: Dr. Monica Coronel holds a Ph.D. in Business with a specialization in Emotional Intelligence. She is a passionate speaker, writer, and EI facilitator who enjoys sharing her expertise with others. Dr. Coronel believes that her purpose in life is to help individuals rediscover their true selves and find their life's purpose. She sees herself as a spiritual being with a mission to guide and assist others. Additionally, Dr. Coronel has created a toolbox called "1 Minute of Self-Reflection" which is based on principles of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and neuroscience.

The practice of taking 1 minute for self-reflection is a powerful tool to increase our daily awareness and experience life with greater consciousness. It is a deliberate journey towards human evolution in consciousness that requires intention, commitment, courage, and energy. This practice is timeless and applicable to modern life, as it helps us become our better selves regardless of our past wounds. In fact, it can help us grow because of them. The goal is to make this practice a habit and a new, loving way of living life. If you are curious about it and would like to give it a try contact me: [email protected]

The information in this article is derived from the State of Latinas in Corporate America report, which heavily relies on Lean In and McKinsey & Company's annual Women in the Workplace study. Since 2015, the study has involved more than 590 companies with over 22 million employees and a quarter of a million individual participants.

Interpreting statistical data and making it understandable and meaningful for the readers requires skill, and the report that I'm referencing has done an excellent job in this regard. One key point that stood out to me, and which I believe should be emphasized for employers, human resources professionals, and everyone else, is the need for real efforts in corporate America to create opportunities for the diverse talent we are fortunate to have in this country.

Emotions are powerful and influence our behaviors, perceptions, decisions, and relationships. However, we often overlook the impact of emotions on our daily experiences, particularly when it comes to evaluating the value of different cultures in American corporations and how emotions influence our perceptions of others in terms of their motivation and value as team players.

The report reveals that "affinity bias," whereby leaders are more likely to sponsor colleagues with shared identities, can hinder the advancement of Latinas in corporate America due to a scarcity of Latina leaders. This decreases Latina employees' likelihood of finding sponsors and impedes their career progression. One Latina mentioned, "I wanted a Latina executive who could serve as a mentor, coach, [or] sponsor to me. I looked within my own company and couldn’t find it."

Despite being highly ambitious and culturally emphasizing a strong work ethic, commitment, and company loyalty, Latinas face challenges in promoting their accomplishments and expressing their desire to advance due to cultural norms around gratitude and keeping a low profile at work. This can hinder their engagement in behaviors essential for career advancement. To get ahead at work, as one Latina explained, "You have to brag about yourself. You have to sell yourself. You have to put yourself out there." However, many Latinas find these actions to be inauthentic.

It is crucial for companies that are committed to supporting the advancement of Latinas to understand and respect their cultural norms, instead of misinterpreting them as a lack of ambition or drive. Therefore, it is important for companies, corporations, and entrepreneurs to establish a training program for executives, leaders, and employees. This program should provide them with content that helps them develop self-awareness, including understanding their beliefs, patterns, and habits, so that they can recognize and control them. This will bring balance to the way promotions, sponsorship, and mentoring are allocated.?

When we approach interactions with those we perceive as different from us with curiosity, we are better able to set aside stereotypes and perceptions, thereby promoting a more equitable and fair system for advancing Latina women in the workplace.

In my work focusing on emotional intelligence in connection with the heart center, I stress the significance of understanding the subconscious influences that shape our perceptions. Through my research and daily routine, I have found that practicing mindfulness regularly is crucial to avoid operating on autopilot, which can hinder personal growth. Without consistent practice, we tend to default to autopilot, impeding our development as individuals and as a society, rendering our efforts ineffective.

If you are ready to start a daily practice, try this:

• Set 3 alarms on your cell phone: early in the morning before you start your day, midday, and before going to sleep.
• As soon as the alarm goes off, stop what you are doing. The excuse that “it is impossible, I am too busy” is simply a resistance you must overcome if you genuinely want to change your life.
• After you stop, take a deep breath. Feel the inhalation, feel the exhalation, and connect with your body. Ideally, close your eyes or rest them at a point in front of you.
• Ask yourself – ideally out loud:

?????????1 Minute of Self-Reflection by Dr. Monica Coronel:

??????????What emotions are present? Mentally scan your body and name what you recognize in your body: tense jaw, contracted neck/shoulders, a feeling of carrying the world ? on your shoulders, etc.

??????????What feelings are present? I see…. (Anger, frustration, irritability, doubt, confusion, joy, anxiety, etc.

??????????What thoughts/mental narrative is present?

My mind is telling me: the world is upside down, this is overwhelming, I can’t deal with this, this is too much…

Ask yourself any of these six questions:

1. Why am I giving power to these thoughts?

2. Who could I be without believing these narratives?

3. Where in my body do I feel these emotions?

4. Why do I believe these thoughts?

5. What is wrong with this present moment?

6. Are these thoughts true without any doubt?

• Breathe and allow yourself to feel your emotions in your body. It is not about bypassing emotions/feelings. On the contrary, it is about allowing ourselves to learn to feel and let go with conscious self-regulation.
• Talk to yourself: Now that I am aware I can handle it or that I am aware that I am not my emotions/feelings/thoughts, I can des-identify from them and make clear and more conscious decisions/judgments/behaviors.

As you practice 1 Minute of Self-Reflection, you will start to identify your habits, beliefs, tendencies/patterns, and now you can choose instead of going on autopilot.?

How do you consciously manage bias, stereotypes, and resistance to engage with and value people you perceive as different from you? Share your thoughts in the comments and spread the article.