The increase in the number of women occupying executive positions in various companies is a tangible and encouraging fact. However, the difficulties encountered by a woman in the course of her career to establish herself in top positions are still far greater than those faced by a male colleague within the same career path. Years of prejudice and discrimination, based on sex rather than on real skills , have not yet been completely overcome and will not be definitively left behind in a short time, but something has moved and is moving .
Here are some of the tips that many successful and accomplished businesswomen and managers feel they can give to all those women who have an ambitious goal and intend to achieve it at all costs.
# 1 SUCCESS IS OBTAINED ONLY WITH SACRIFICE
You will have to work hard to get what you want, going through years of apprenticeship, competition, deadlines, mistakes and bad days. Always remain aware that, even if at times you will feel defeated and insecure , your future comes from your determination and your ability to react after a failure: do not be afraid of obstacles and take each failure as a further step towards success.
# 2 DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, IF IT DON’T SATISFY YOU
Not being satisfied means refusing to give in to mediocrity just for fear of change , it means understanding that stability is reassuring but not always as satisfying. If the road you have taken does not lead where you would like, stop and reconsider your priorities: sometimes it is not worth taking refuge in tranquility with the risk of finding yourself dissatisfied .
So, especially in the beginning, save money to be able to leave a job you don’t like without anxiety, take some risks , allow yourself some risky choices, stay motivated and surround yourself with stimulating people who really believe in you.
# 3 DO SOMETHING YOU REALLY LIKE
It seems almost trivial but too often we waste time and energy doing something that we don’t care about or that we just don’t like , perhaps because it’s an undemanding or well-paid job. But personal success is not always and only measured on the basis of comfort or the money you earn. No matter how hard you have to work: the results will only come if you are happy to dedicate all of yourself to a project that you really feel you want to accomplish.
# 4 BE KIND …
You don’t have to be tough and unbearable to be heard. It is a common feature among male managers, based on the belief that only an iron fist leads to concrete results . But that’s not the case, and one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to adjust to a certain way of doing it even if it doesn’t belong to you. Great results are also achieved with kindness , listening to your collaborators or employees, talking to them and helping them solve problems rather than creating new ones.
No one can go far by relying solely on himself and, in this way, it will be easier to establish a professional relationship with truly trusted people.
# 5… BUT ASSERTIVE!
Being kind doesn’t mean allowing anything . You must be respected and make sure that your provisions are not ignored, showing confidence in your means and great competence . Accept the advice but do not be afraid to express your ideas with conviction, listen to constructive suggestions and ignore those aimed at destabilizing you, take the situation in hand if, in a moment of stalemate, you are convinced that the best way to proceed is what you have thought: motivate your proposal and take action in person to involve others .
# 6 BE AWARE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT PREJUDICE
Unfortunately it is a fact: being a woman means starting from a disadvantage to make a career . It’s still a very common condition and the only thing you can do is stand out, emerge with exceptional commitment and determination. You will need to prove that you are unique by reaching a level of competence that makes you indispensable and showing that you know more than anyone else in your field. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, because only in this way can you prevent those who want to hinder you from catching you off guard.
# 7 TAKE YOUR TIME
Learn to take advantage of your free time , to enjoy leisure, to switch off from time to time. The feeling common to many women is that of having to continually prove something to someone, dedicating all day, every day to a single cause: career. Being always active, ready, available and operational will end up absorbing your whole day and energy from work . It is precisely for this reason that the awareness of having to fight to achieve your goals should not lead you to neglect your family life or your passions: if you need to slow down, do it!
# 8 BE CRITICAL WITH YOURSELF AND SUCCESSFUL
Avoid constantly self-sabotaging ! Set yourself realistic and above all achievable goals , a defined vision and a clear goal. Setting oneself as a goal that is unattainable , forcing oneself to conclude a complex project with absolutely unlikely deadlines or aiming too high when the time is not ripe is as common as it is irrational behavior . Being critical does not mean finding ways to criticize yourself at any cost. Such an attitude is demotivating and will certainly not lead you to relevant goals.
# 9 GROW AND INCENTIVE THE BEST TALENTS
The more your career progresses, the more you will need to delegate – because you can’t always do everything yourself – and you will feel the need to confront someone from time to time. Therefore, create a dynamic and valuable team , give positive feedback and keep motivated by showing that you appreciate their work. In addition to the satisfaction of seeing new professionals grow, you will always have valuable help from absolutely reliable people .
# 10 DECIDE WHICH FOOTPRINT YOU WANT TO LEAVE
Propose your vision, your approach to work, carry on your ethics and your values, find positive models to follow but rework them in a personal way while always remaining yourself. Your goal must be to leave a mark and become a role model for the future. It is an ambitious goal but only with ambition can real success be achieved
