How to Move Up in Your Career
If you are a women and you desire to move ahead in the corporate ladder, according to Amy Henry, one of The Apprentice stars on NBC network TV series book title ‘What It Takes’ You should follow the steps she had mentioned in her book.
We have come a long way, even though there have been some prominent women who have been very strong leaders in workforces, especially in businesses such as Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, etc. still women are not measured quite as equal as men in 21st century yet, on every subjects including earning wages potential. We tend to be thinking conservatively about our values, about our self worth, about our money and several of other things. As we were always taught by our parents to be conservative, respect and follow the leaders (or our husbands), to be humble, etc.
In this book ‘What It Takes’ by Amy Henry, you should consider all the steps beyond your parents guidance. At workplace, it’s not enough to be just competent, you need to do more, such as:
– Build relationships with superiors
– Speak up on behalf of your needs and accomplishments
– Step up to challenging assignments that demonstrate your skills
– Use rather than hide your charm and intuition
– Value your work and ask for the money you deserve
– Let objectivity rather than emotion guide your workplace behavior
– Make yourself and your achievements known
There are strategies you need to use to work on yourselves in order to achieve your goals and your desires:
Power of networking- networking is not such a dirty word- drop the bias. Networking is to build relationships, researching, and conversing with colleagues. Don’t limit yourself in only one division of a company. Maintain contacts throughout an organization, and your field of opportunity widens. Relationships and quality works must come together. Networking is as important as the work itself. You need to recognize the power of the superiors who have the power to promote you by trying to establish the relationships with them. You need to have good relationships with the people who are under you as well. These networking also includes people outside your company and industry. But don’t try to be confused about relationships between your best friends and colleagues, they are different. If you get too close and formed a clique, this might prevent you from other colleagues who can help you excel. You also need to maintaining friendly, respectful relationships with people you don’t like. It is the most political type of networking. Most women can’t separate these feelings and try to avoid making them.
You need to speak up, learn to listen carefully first and speak up to ensure credit, speak up to avoid responsibility for others’ mistakes, speak up to share your ideas with people, speak up to show intellect in action, speak up to impress superiors and motivates coworkers. Before speaking up you need to consider your thoughts, your message, your points with facts, plan your delivery and anticipate potential questions and be prepared with answers. Present your ideas seriously if you want them taken seriously. Another thing, let other people speak up for you too. You also need to say no when it’s necessary. Speak up to get the job you want. Create your own job description. Speak up with substance.
Stepping up requires confidence–self assurance in our ability to succeed. Learn how to take risk in the specific subject area you are not an expert. Act with your future in mind, expect to slip up some times. When this happens, you should think that it is okay as long as you survive and solve for the worst- case scenario in your mind. When in doubt–laugh.
Avoid dating in work place but if you still want to do so, do it confidentially. There are a lot of temptations when men meet women and sometimes you can’t help the situations. Be sure to dress appropriately. Many men think more of sex than women. Be friendly but use your words carefully so that they are not taken the other way around.
Wanting to make money is not enough. You need to know how to ask for it. You are worth more than you think. When you apply for a new job be sure to do your homework, researching about the range of the salary on that particular position so that you know how much to ask for. You also need to ask for a raise when you know you have accomplished a great job. Don’t work for free. Negotiate compensation packages you deserve.
Emotions at work: don’t cry in the boardroom.
Lastly, make yourself known. As marketers spend months if not years perfecting their products message and identity. Branding yourself is not a new concept, but it should be taken seriously; when you think about your brand early in your career, you’re more likely to be known for the reputation you want.
Amy’s book was well written. I would recommend if you’d like to read the full details.
