What's Holding Women Back Isn't You
When was the last time that you were told you were too ________?
A recent study?of 913 women who are leaders in male-dominated industries looked at what prevents women from getting more leadership roles. It found a common refrain: that women were never "quite right."
This mimics the messaging we hear every day in our homes, in our workplaces, in the media and on billboards.
You are:
too old to lead
too young to lead
too single
too married
too busy being a mom
too dry
too dramatic
too attractive
领英推荐
not attractive enough
too smiley?
not smiley enough.
Whatever it is, you are never quite right.
So what do you do? You react. You respond to these criticisms by working harder or dieting or applying more makeup or devoting more energy or pasting on a smile or being more serious. You combat the criticisms with words or actions. But you are chasing your tail, and it needs to stop.
What does help? Institutional change like more women at every level of the workplace. Women make up 50% of the population but institutions like The World Bank and The United Nations and many countries including the United States have never been helmed by a woman. Yet the proof is in the data. Businesses run by women perform better, and governments have improved processes when women are represented in leadership.?
Now let's take it back to you.
Your future doesn't start 10 pounds from now, a promotion from now, a new relationship from now, when you become a mom, when you become an empty nester or when you become a home owner. You are just right as you are and there is no better time to seize the life you want than at this moment. We can't control the voices but we can control how much weight we give them.
The systems are broken, but you are just right.
Managing Partner @ Wealth Engagement | CFP?| Goldman Sachs Demystifying financial planning and investing | Empowering women to be financially confident
1 年Samantha Ettus its all about giving yourself self love ;-)
Chief Spaghetti Untangler
1 年I was once told, by a woman, that I would never be taken seriously because I had "princess hair". Wow.
A Catalyst for Leaders Ready to Lead on Your Own Terms | Transformational Leadership Development Strategist | Team Culture Builder
1 年Yes Samantha Ettus! We ARE perfectly and wonderfully made. Let's stop "giving weight" to what people are telling us about us and discover our strengths so we can own our true value. What comes easy to you? What gives you energy? When are you in "flow" - focused on an activity you lose track of time and are still energized? Then align what you do and success is guaranteed! ??