I have read or seen various discussions regarding how women are faring these days and where they fit in the labor pool and job market. Many are good news stories, and several are cautionary tales or just reminders that there is a way forward. I have seen more women who now have a seat at the table. It is important to know what is going on and to contribute to decisions being made about you, about women. They are now CEOs, COOs, women who were in the background, but now in charge of organizations or their own business. It made me reflect on the backstories of “Access and Opportunity”. How have you maneuvered the last 5 – 6 years? We have contended with or been affected peripherally by Me Too, Black Lives Matter, gender causes, political unrest, and pandemic overload.
Or maybe it’s “Opportunity and Access” because by now you have had more than a year to reflect if you just entered the pandemic “era”. Maybe you have a plan, but you still have old habits. I’m reminded of a movie “Waiting to Exhale”. Well, we know that ship has sailed, and we are learning different ways to breathe. It never ceases to amaze me that there are so many extraordinary women who have a lot going for them or can accomplish so much but sometimes they don’t know it. You may not see a straight path forward to ultimately have a seat at the table where you contribute your worth and excellence, due to rapid changing approaches and considerations. You can be mindful of how you navigate unchartered territory.
You now have “Opportunity” to Know your worth, take risks, and create or engage with your network and choose where you want to land. Don’t sit out the next few years because Covid-19 interrupted your financial freedom. It doesn’t matter that you had a break in your career, because you had children that needed childcare. Forget that whisper in your ear where you were told you weren’t quite the right fit. This is nebulous and doesn’t tell you what is missing. It’s easy to focus on these things rather than working towards solutions for your seat at the table. Let’s start with you can change lanes on your career journey by releasing whatever is holding you back.
My sister and I did a podcast called “You Inc., Managing Your Career”. The Playlist is “Supporting Women with Everyday Choices”. This led me to You Inc., Part II and the crib notes of podcast “You Inc.” Part 1 identified several actions. Manage your career early and often. Identify a mentor and network who provide career guidance and moral support. Ensure you have checked all qualification boxes such as education, high visibility projects that stretch you, and on-going training.
Deeper insight to what you have done, or not, should lead you to focus on your knowledge and experience by creating your own narrative. Sometimes we know we are good, and performance feedback reflects this, but we just keep waiting to be elevated to a higher level. You are more than a job description or category. Know your leadership worth as an adviser, as an organizational builder, and inspiration to others. Only you know what investments you have made and the results of you being knowledgeable and experienced in more than one area means you are more than ready to expand your prospects.
There are three action phrases, that I think are most appropriate for anyone to build on. Black Enterprise1 gets credit for the terms. As I was working through my career path, I didn’t think of these phrases, but they resonate as I reflect back and consider my journey.
BE Intentional – I rounded out my intentional efforts by ensuring I addressed people, processes, and products as a way of ensuring I covered every aspect of what I was responsible for. Start with the people you interact with, incorporate a common goal to get a need met or to solve problems; and finally assess your end-product. Our Sister and Sistah Podcasts speak “growing and becoming” and “living life well-lived”. That seems to flow into BE’s statements that one should live life by design, not default.
BE Empowered – Too often we are waiting for someone to tap us on the shoulder and say you’re empowered. Yes, good leaders do this, but it reminds me of a song called “Encourage Yourself”. When you are inspired by passionate and innovative people you want to get in the driver’s seat and do your thing.
BE Equipped – This theme never stops being at the top of the list. BE said it best: Fill your toolkit with the hard skills needed to have complex and empowering conversations around the most difficult and impactful subjects. I believe you must act and incorporate these in your development.
Soft skills – clearly not about being “hard”. Personality may in fact hold you back, but it can be overcome. If you are leading a team, you must be able to communicate to various levels of the working population which may require you to learn new ideas. Make yourself a good fit.
Emotional Intelligence can work for you or against you. You must see connections between people and the workplace as well as motivate others. This means understanding your personal competencies. How you manage yourself starts with your self-awareness. Your social awareness affects your relations. Taking a deep dive leads you to managing relationships.
Your personal life – Are you impacted by gender biases that affect who is the breadwinner or impacts work at home life balance? You should address these with yourself or partner to decide how this will influence where you want to be.
There are many ways to get to where you want to be or go but there were some foundational steps and actions for those who have arrived and have a seat at the table. Sum it all up as the power of perseverance, or diligence or tenacity, and certainly endurance against all odds. This means pursue your goal that no one ever thought possible.
You are in charge of your career checklist and staying relevant. Deciding what is important and declaring that you will do something that moves you forward every day means channeling your thoughts and habits so that they become your reality. Don’t let anything derail your efforts.
When you get to the senior level there’s an assumption of equity. In reality, ‘growing and becoming’ includes a “shout out” to those who support your dream. If relationships haven’t been built along the way; comfort level by others or sponsorships don’t happen.
Finally, I have always liked the phrase: bloom where you are planted. This message was two-fold, some were ready to sprint even though they hadn’t bloomed. Others needed to be motivated to bloom. I recently saw a new take on the phrase: Not only should you bloom where you are planted but you should affirm “I will bust the pot!”
1 Black Enterprise, Women of Power Summit, March 2020
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