ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR WORKING WOMEN (PART 1 OF 3)
· If
you are a working woman, who believes that compared with men, you face tougher
challenges at workplace, hurdles in career progression, and greater demands on
your time from family, you may be right.
· However,
you should never allow circumstances to dictate your destination or the
journey.
· It is
up to you to master these challenges and excel in your career.
1. Prioritise
safety, comfort
· If
you are planning to change jobs, put safety first; all else can wait.
· Check
if the workplace offers personal safety, which includes the commute, location,
work timings, travel requirements, etc.
· Equally
important are the people you interact with and the office culture, which should
prioritise individual safety.
· Find
out if the job profile and work environment suit you.
· If
the work demands clash with personal responsibilities or working conditions
aggravate your health problems, you are setting yourself up for failure.
· Focus
on getting safety and comfort in place while selecting a job and free up your
energy to pursue results when you begin work.
2. Go for
results
· Know the
results expected of you, targets that will get you promotions, increments and
awards, and chart out a route to get there.
· During
the performance review, the actual results you have delivered matter more than
who you are.
· Bonding
with the team, good rapport with clients and a positive opinion of your boss
are strong enhancers in your performance review discussions, but they do not
cover up for lack of hard numbers.
3. Learn to be
assertive
· Stand
up, and speak up as well.
· Assertiveness
is not just a good skill to have, but an essential tool for a professional.
· During
salary discussion, like every professional, you are expected to speak out and
negotiate for your dues without accepting the first offer.
· In
the meeting room, the team can function well only if you are loud enough to be
heard and taken seriously.
· A
team member will deliver results only if you accept nothing less than
excellence.
· Like
any other skill, you can learn to be assertive and get better with practice.