Best way to get career support is from within your circles ladies

Some of my friends and I have a favourite saying we revert to when trying to explain the difference in the men/women validation dynamic. ‘Men wake up in the morning thinking...I’m awesome and today I am going to kick some behind. Women need a reminder every so often to remind them of just how awesome they are’.

As women, our validation tends to come from without, not within and we inadvertently seek permission to be great. But in this day and age when women are taking on more leadership roles, both in business and politics, it is important to be prepared for the task at hand. And it is equally important to get into the habit of seeking our validation, first and foremost from the (wo)man in the mirror. And even when that validation is slow in coming, there are a few strategies that can be employed.

Say yes

When Sheryl Sandberg (yes, the COO of Facebook) co-wrote the book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead that has become the career bible for women everywhere (even those who do not completely agree with her maxims), she emphasised the importance of ‘Leaning In’. When an exciting opportunity comes your way, after the initial ‘this is amazing’ feeling we tend to start spiraling into the abyss of self-doubt. The result is that we come up with 101 reasons why we’re not the perfect person for the job, why someone else is better than us, why we will fail. And then of course, we convince ourselves. Believe in your ability. As long as this is a project that you have yearned for and pulls at your heartstrings, then go ahead and jump. You have the resources all around you to figure it out.

Collaborate more

Women are described as relationship and consensus builders. And that can be leveraged as a great tool. It means that they can build great supportive networks. After all, it is a proven fact that collaboration yields better results than competition. Rather than tearing each other down network, socialise and support each other.

Mentorship

Create a network of different mentors for different aspects of your life. These are people who you can identify who truly want you to succeed in what you do and have knowledge, resources and connections that can help you along the way. They do not necessarily have to be women, though if you’re charting new waters it is helpful to get a fellow woman’s perspective in how to get the most out of your journey.

TIPS

- Say yes to projects that excite you and that support your goals, but at the same time get comfortable with saying no to those that detract from your goals.

- As opposed to tearing down, harness the benefits of supporting each other as women in the workplace or in business.

Photo: mybbwo.com