5 Ways Women Can Shatter The Glass Ceiling
In McKinsey’s 2020 Women in the Workplace study, they showed the difficulty women face at work. With only 21% of female representation at C-Suite level, there has been some improvement in recent years. However, there is still much to be done in regards to gender inequality in the majority of organizations. Women are faced with many challenges, being mistaken for lower job roles, being skipped over for a promotion, and judged for a work/home balance. If you want to shatter that elusive glass ceiling, follow these tips below.
- Start On The Right Foot
It’s helpful if you can begin any job in the best position possible. Your contract will be the lynchpin of your role so getting it right is extremely important. Unless you’re well versed in law, get an employment law attorney to read through your contract and help negotiate better pay from the get-go. Other elements they can assist you with are health insurance, job description, vacation days, and paid overtime. The better your contract the better your situation will be.
- Grow Your Rolodex
Okay so Rolodexes have made way for iPhone contact lists, but the principle is still the same. Developing your network is vital for moving up in the world of work. Your professional relationships offer up many opportunities. If you can grow these into mentor-mentee roles then you can stand to gain valuable advice, insights and can open the right doors. If you can find a sponsor in your current place of work they will be able to help you on your way to the top. A sponsor will advocate for you on a professional level and will propel your career forward.
- Set Yourself Goals
Failing to prepare means preparing to fail. Make sure you know exactly what you want to achieve in your career and clearly define the steps you need to take to get there. There can be many ways to become successful so try and prepare for many paths. Often you will have to fight battles that your male counterparts will not, so one of the key things to remember is to stay flexible. Things may not always go your way and you will have to be able to adapt to new issues that may arise.
- Seek Honest Feedback
Speak to your peers and your managers to understand your strengths and weaknesses in depth. It’s easy to reflect on our successes and share those with others, however, getting to grips with any flaws you have is imperative to your growth. If you recognize and acknowledge the things you need to work on you’ll be able to address those issues and combat them. This will lead to your personal and professional development and you’ll become a more rounded employee.
- Understand Your Company
Finding the root of any problems in your organization will help you break through those boundaries. If you can work out where the so-called glass ceiling lies, it will be easier to work through. If you know the problem lies with a certain manager or lack of opportunity then you can put together an action plan to fix the problem, whether that means speaking with HR or deepening professional relationships.
Are you a woman who has broken through barriers at work? Let us know the secret to your success in the comments!
