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. Here are some pointers that can help you power up and boost your
chances of success. And, yes, these choices work equally well for either gender.
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
workenvironment 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.
Go for results
What are the results expected of you? Which targets will get you
promotions, increments and awards? Know them well and chart out a route
to get there. During the performance review, who you are matters less
than the actual results you have delivered. 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.
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.
Publicise your work
The priciest diamond has no value while buried in the earth. Similarly,
an executive's achievements are not recognised till they are
communicated to the world. Know that you have to highlight your
contributions and blow your own trumpet. Make sure that your boss knows
the good work you are doing and your team knows how you are pulling your
weight. Use both formal and informal opportunities to talk about your
work and seek due credit. Speak about team achievement to focus on your
own inputs. Practice accepting praise gracefully with a 'thank you',
instead of diverting or ignoring it.
Find mentors
Seek people who are willing to teach and can compress your learning time
from years to months. Good mentors, too, are from either gender. From
their wealth of experience or understanding, they help you master better
work attitude and skills and negotiate challenges. For a sustainable
relationship, do not confuse mentors with friends. Be sure to give your
mentors the respect and gratitude that is due.
Be a professional
Professionalism knows no gender. Pull up those socks; the results and
reputation are worth the effort. Show up on time for work, meetings and
events every single time. Treat each deadline like an airline flight and
make sure that you deliver at least an hour before it. Earn a
reputation for work that does not need to be rechecked for errors. Over
time, you will be respected and treated as a professional instead of
being judged over your gender or status.
Multitasking doesn't work
Stop multitasking and your effectiveness will shoot up dramatically.
Focus on the present moment and immerse in the task at hand. If unable
to complete, reschedule and remove it from your mind. Worrying about an
office deadline in the middle of your child's birthday party or fretting
about an ill relative while your boss is discussing the quarterly
target does not work well for anyone.
Invest in your team
Help your team members succeed. A career path is much like climbing the
Mount Everest; you can reach the top only with competent team members
who deliver results. Invest in the personal and professional success of
the members who report to you. The payback is two-fold. First, they are
able to handle greater responsibilities, and second, you earn the
reputation of a boss who breeds success and attracts better
professionals.
Manage the breaks
A break in your career need only be a pause, not a fullstop. Whether
it's maternity leave, illness or extraneous circumstances, you can
manage your break keeping your career needs in mind. Returning from a
break, you will only need to convince potential employers that you are
as sharp as ever and an invaluable asset. Going back to an ex-employer
or ex-boss is almost always easier. You can also use the time to enhance
your career by working as a part-time consultant or acquiring
additional skills.
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME
1. Automate finances: Save
4 hours a month. Automate routine expenditure and investment tasks.
Link regular bill payments to your credit card or bank account. Link
your bank account to an automatic/recurring deposit scheme. Ask service
providers to send online bills/statements. These save you the time to
record and file.
2. Work the commute: Add
up to 10 hours a week. If you commute by car, invest in a driver or
join a car pool. Use this time to answer e-mails, make calls, write
notes, catch up with friends or even take a nap. If you travel by public
transport, try juggling your travel schedule to get a less crowded ride
and elbow room to use the time productively.
3. Smarten the phone: Add
1 hour every day. Invest in a good smartphone, Internet on the go, and
learn how the phone works. Treat your device as a mobile computer that
also makes calls. Now, put empty, wasted minutes during the day to good
use—catch up on reading books, answer routine e-mails or research your
industry numbers.
4. Shop online: Save
4 hours a month. Reduce the time spent in travel and at the
brick-and-mortar stores. Explore the world of online ordering for all
your shopping needs, including books, electronics, clothing, even
groceries.
5. Reward the staff: Save
2-6 hours a month. Much time can be saved if you get better service
from the people who work for you—the maid, cook, parking lot attendant,
waiter at your regular lunch joint, office secretary, tech-support team,
etc. Choose to acknowledge and reward desired service levels.
Source : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
