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What can you do to help prevent pioneering ambition from plummeting?

Take action against the forces that cause pioneering ambition to plummet.

If it’s YOU that’s constantly battling forces making you feel like your ambition is chipping away – if you’re feeling like the battle is just too much – then LISTEN UP!

  • Try to fight that feeling of defeat and know that you’re not alone.

  • Know that it’s not YOU. The feelings you are having and the way that you’re being treated is NOT your fault. Most people aren’t aware their behavior is causing such a negative impact on you.

  • Perceptions can be damaging. Approach each day with a mindset of being the best version of yourself, not someone else’s version of you.

  • Continue to put yourself out there. You’re here to be part of it…you’re here to have a voice. Focus on that.

WHAT WE ALL CAN DO —

Stand with women

Work to recognize and understand the layers of obstacles women are experiencing and push it away from them. Notice and correct instances of inappropriate behavior in a safe, respectful manner.

Be more self-aware

Practice intentional self-reflection by first realizing we all come to situations with opinions, responses, and expectations based off of our own experiences and upbringing.

By being more intentional and allowing time to reflect after interactions, we can begin to recognize our unconscious perceptions, understand them, control them if needed… and do better.

Support women's groups

Help create a dedicated space for employees to have a sense of alliance that organically builds support. From informal to formal Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) — women need a safe place to identify common interests and seek out support networks.

Behind-the-scenes clip: Why We Need Women’s Groups. 

A women’s group is a safe space to:
– share frustrations and discuss concerns,
– share challenges and ask for advice, and
– experience the proximity of power with co-workers.

Share the care

All over the world women are significantly more likely than men to be expected to take on caregiving roles. This leads to greater stress and career impacts.

Be a person (partner, spouse, or relative) who shares the care for children, the elderly, the disabled, and/or pets.

A Global Wake-up Call: https://learningpartnership.org/blog/weight-care-womans-lifelong-responsibility 

Normalize menopause in the workplace

The menopausal years happen when many women are at the top of their game at work: highly accomplished in their professions, possess significant institutional knowledge, demonstrate mature decision-making capabilities, and serve as dynamic and influential leaders.

Given that numerous women choose to leave their positions during this stage due to menopausal symptoms, fostering a supportive workplace culture is essential.

Play a team sport (can be non-athletic)

Play a team sport. Sign your daughters up for a team sport. EY research highlights the important role sport plays at every stage of professional women’s lives – from girls to C-suite executives. The research shows that 94% of C-suite women have played sports, demonstrating that sport participation can propel them into successful careers.

The act of knowing how to work as a team uniquely positions you to thrive in your career. And a ‘team sport’ doesn’t necessarily have to mean an athletic sport. There are non-athletic team activities that will help develop grit, resilience, and a sense of team.

Behind-the-scenes clip: Playing a Team Sport Leads to Career Success!

Seek out ways to increase the visibility of female employees

Be a colleague’s voice when she’s not in the room. Talk about how you appreciate her work, advocate for her by recommending her for a promotion or project due, elaborate on her skills, accomplishments, and potential.

Support the development of more female leaders.

Read more at NCWIT.

Create a culture of community

Promote a work environment that welcomes and values employees of all backgrounds.

When people feel accepted for who they are, they’ll be more likely to contribute during meetings and business conversations.

Sponsor women

While mentors offer valuable advice, Sponsors are senior leaders who actively use their power and influence to advocate for women’s advancement while countering unfair biases.

A Sponsor goes beyond mentoring by actively advocating for promotions and challenging assignments. Read: A Lack of Sponsorship Is Keeping Women from Advancing into Leadership

How can you be an effective Sponsor?

  • Focus on getting to know a potential protégé and build a relationship with her.
  • Provide crucial visibility for her capabilities
  • Offer candid feedback
  • Help her find the resources she needs for growth
  • Share your network.

Pay interns

For organizations, paid-intern opportunities lead to attracting more diverse candidates who can offer the best return on investment for entry-level recruiting.

For women, unpaid internships —

  • reinforces the idea that women’s work is less valuable than men’s,
  • affect a woman’s negotiating power when they start out in their careers  (internship pay is correlated with starting salaries),
  • contribute to her lifelong gender pay gap.

 

With women overrepresented among unpaid interns, their pay often lags men’s from the very start. Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/even-interns-face-a-gender-pay-gap-5343121/

Respect and accept work-life balance

As women manage demanding roles and personal responsibilities, they often must sacrifice well-being or feel the need to work harder and longer hours.  When you show your support for a work-life balance, you are helping many women avoid burnout, improve their mental and physical health, boost productivity, and foster career growth.

Ideas? Try to model alternative work/life strategies. Publicly show that you’re leaving for a doctor appointment – to attend a family event – to be part of an exercise class.

Behind-the-scenes clip: How Do You Manage Your Time?

Pay women what they deserve

Globally and in the U.S., women earn about 81-84 cents for every dollar men make when working full-time, with an even larger gap for women of color. (The gap is smaller for younger adults (25-34), with women earning about 95 cents for every dollar men make, but it widens with age. –study-) 

This gender pay gap persists across most jobs and ages, resulting in significant long-term financial disparities: women’s daily finances, savings, and retirement security. Read more: https://iwpr.org/new-report-women-earn-less-than-men-in-all-occupations-even-ones-commonly-held-by-women/

Use these resources to learn more!