3 strategies for women to 'compete' better in their careers 6
The ability to stand up for yourself in the workplace is arguably more important than ever.
Furthermore, the younger generation of workers is expected to change jobs more frequently than previous generations.
While self-advocacy is a skill everyone should master, it’s especially important for women new to the workforce.
Becoming the best version of yourself can seem incredible and sometimes overwhelming.
Dr. Marisa Porges is a White House Advisor, Head of Baldwin School for Girls (Pennsylvania, USA) and author of the book `What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous, and Resilient Women`.
Below are three basic strategies that people can refer to throughout their career.
Getting your requests accepted by your superiors requires a process of practicing persuasion skills.
Start small and keep practicing
Like any life skill, you need to learn it to develop confidence and express yourself better.
For example, if you need more time to complete a project, don’t immediately ask for an extension.
Once you identify the problem, try to come up with a solution that is relatively easy for others to support.
These small efforts will give you the opportunity to hone your personal style of persuasion and encourage everyone to support your future proposals.
Tip to be a pro: Before meeting with a manager to propose a solution, answer this question: Why is my idea a good idea?
Turn empathy to your advantage
At first glance, this idea seems unusual.
For example, if you want more flexibility at work.
Specifically, you can explain why working remotely (or coming in later or leaving earlier for a few days) will help you be more productive.
For women especially, this strategy helps us avoid the backlash that research shows happens when we negotiate and fight for ourselves.
Tip to be professional: Choose the right way to say it, like `I have an idea that will help both of us.`
Form a group
When you want to make bigger offers at work – like participation in an important project, the opportunity to attend a conference, or new responsibilities that open the door for advancement – try to match them.
For women, if they are working in a male-dominated environment, this method is extremely effective.
Additionally, it’s clear that when an issue impacts not just you but a whole group of people, the company will pay more attention.
Tip for being professional: Have a trusted colleague be in the room when you pitch your ideas.
Of course, stating what you need is difficult.
Get started now, and maybe refer to the strategies above.
