The studies were conducted to assess the female performances in the C-Suite and all concluded that the firms with more women in C-Suite perform better both socially and economically along with providing a wholesome experience to the customers. It was also found out by Pew Research Center that the number of these female executives is on the continuous increase (Female CEOs increase 0-26 from 1995-2015 in Fortune 500 companies). Despite this positive outlook, there is a long way to go. Women are still vastly underrepresented as compared to their male counterparts. There are a variety of reasons from personal to professional that create hurdles for these aspiring females. However, there are certain ways to address these problems as a whole. Here are the five tips for the female professionals who want to join the C-Suite of the company and facing a multitude of problems.
1 – Make the best choice
Now that you are a professional, you need to work everything out like an expert. It is going to be your choices that determine your future success. Start planning from the beginning. If you are about to join a company, then thoroughly search about the leadership at the company. You need to take into account the opinions of the employee. For reaching a top spot, a growth culture is required. The employees depict that picture by showing their concerns towards the company and the leadership. By listening to their opinions, you can get valuable information about the chances you have to excel in the job. If you are already working in a company, we have other tips in store for you.
2 – Learn to manage the difficulties
If you are already working in a firm, you will face a lot of difficulties on your way up. You need to acknowledge the fact that you belong to an underrepresented group in a professional environment. It may seem a disappointing fact but it will eventually play to your strength. For instance, females are often given a difficult task and their only rescue is to come up with a strategy that is novel and unique. In other words, to stand out they develop new ideas and make firms perform even well. You belong to that novel-idea-creation group. In the face of difficulty, you need to remember that there is much to learn and giving it the best shot will increase your chance of getting a top position easier.
3 – Building confidence
Yes, you hear that right! Aren’t you already a confident person in your workspace? Of course, you are managing the work to the best of your abilities but the environment may create some doubt about your abilities. These doubts can easily destroy your confidence while you internalize them. This is the reason many female employees do not even ask for pay raise and even promotion because they think they do not yet deserve. At these moments, you need to stand up for yourself and demand what rightly is yours.
4 – Build a Network
Many females tend to ignore the importance of the network. Think of your office as a democratic state where every vote counts towards your success. They all have an equal stake in the company and your decisions should be made keeping this fact in mind. While racing for the top spot, it will be your choices that will get you a vote. Instill empathy for the coworkers and build a network for valuable suggestions.
5 – Set your boundaries right now
There is a very thin line that separates personal and professional attitudes. In a professional environment, you need to balance your attitude between being flexible and being firm. On the one end, you become a people pleaser and on the other end you are going to be hated by your coworkers and both options are detrimental to your success.
Learn to say no when it is not a part of your job. Also, solve the conflict in a professional manner. While you should understand the politics in your organization quite well, don’t involve yourself into it. Don’t create unnecessary enemies for yourself. And remember that communication is the solution to all workplace woes. You need to solve trivial problems through communication and get back to work. Success is waiting for you.
