Believe it or not, organizations seldom reward and promote the hardest workers.
Research shows that the hardest workers spend all their time working hard instead of working smart. The person who gets promoted is the one that understands the corporate direction, aligns their duties to the overarching goals, develops advantageous relationships and has a polished reputation.
Whether it is because of a woman's collaborate nature, her distaste of conflict, or wanting to be popular and well-liked, she often avoids asking for what she needs or wants.
Be strategic. Be observant. Listen carefully and ask questions to uncover what it is that the company is looking for in its leaders. Follow the lead of star players.
Work for the sake of work doesn't work. The organization needs growth and bottom line results. Look for what is actually rewarded, promoted and recognized. Don't be afraid to ask someone to mentor you, either inside or outside the organization. Look in areas where you may be weak--finance, marketing, sales or operations.
Start spending time on the things that matter. Stop doing the things you are doing that really don't matter. Think in terms of your boss's boss. View your job and position through his or her eyes and start doing what really counts. Time management is about focusing on what is important by preserving and enhancing relationships that achieve results.
Developing negotiation skills will be one of the most valuable skills a woman can possess. It is common knowledge that many women don't receive what they deserve simply because they don't ask.
Source: When Doing It All Won't Do: A self-coaching guide for career women. (ebook edition $0.99, Workbook Edition in paperback $13.41)
When Doing It All Won't Do: A Self-Coaching Guide for Career Women--Workbook Edition--Paperback $13.41
Every now and then a person runs across a great book that really helps improve the quality of life. This is such a book! Written by top coaches of executive women, Barb McEwen and John Agno, the goal of When Doing It All Won’t Do is to develop solutions and strategies to help women’s lives be easier, richer, happier, and saner.
It’s based on the premise that doing it all won’t do. If you are a woman who is weary and stressed and taking on too much and struggling to juggle it all, this book is dedicated to helping you find the enjoyment and satisfaction you expected with your success.
Well-organized with real solutions and a helpful workbook section, this book focuses on developing your signature talents to do what you do best, developing a formula for success, and prioritizing your values and goals. A great read!
