High achievers have always faced obstacles to success, whether they have focused on intrapreneurship or entrepreneurship as a long-term career strategy. What is more intriguing, however, is that these women always seemed to muster the courage and determination to gain a seat at the table and the power to effect change.
But even with a long history of “fighting the good fight,” women can still benefit from new ways to deal with the muck and mire of the business world.
Related: How Men Can Help Women Fight Gender Inequality
If you're a woman looking for smart ways to succeed in your career, consider the following strategies to climb the corporate ladder and beyond:
1. Raise your standards.
The same level of excellence that got you where you are, won't get you where you want to be. Poorness has never been associated with high performance or high potential. Therefore, whatever your career goals, challenge yourself to work smarter rather than harder and expect more of yourself than others. It means adopting daily rituals designed to bring you a little closer to where you want to be. Wake up earlier, work later, finish the task sooner and better, all it takes to improve your performance and accelerate results. Results don't happen without rituals. Make sure yours reflects a level of excellence that positions you for greater success.
2. Make more mistakes.
As quiet as they are guarded, mistakes are fairly common occurrences on the road to success. And, no matter how smart, prepared, or savvy you are, expect to find yourself in the middle of a few during your career. Ask any accomplished professional—male or female “And he will admit it. Missteps provide opportunities to learn and start over with a renewed sense of self and better understanding than before. Embrace these lessons, rather than trying to avoid them. The more the merrier.
3. Know the difference between a mentor and a sponsor, then get both.
Mentors share wisdom curated over a lifetime of experience; they act as advisers. They provide behind-the-scenes feedback and guidance on a number of factors that affect career mobility. Sponsors are typically high-level leaders who are invested in a protege's overall professional success and actively advocate on their behalf. By putting the protege forward, the sponsor leverages his influence to add credibility to the protege's career trajectory. Women need both because this level of holistic support ensures greater upward mobility and long-term career success that would otherwise not be available.
4. Leverage your professional wheelhouse.
Too often we forget that the completeness of our knowledge, skills and abilities is not limited to our current or most recent career path. Your "professional wheelhouse" includes entirety of your knowledge, skills, experience and abilities. When used to add value to everything you do, you literally end up with home court advantage. Indeed, we often take for granted that certain professional experiences inform unrelated ones and that together they add up to strengthen your professional capacity. That said, don't take the generosity of what you know for granted. Dig deeper to see how to successfully integrate more of what you know into everything you do.
5. Network, delegate and collaborate like a pro.
Success is never the result of solitary efforts. In business, trying to do it all yourself is a recipe for disaster, no matter how good you are. Beyond delegating duties, which is essential, making useful connections and collaborating with others adds unlimited value to your work. Networking on a regular basis is a proven way to reach new audiences, explore synergies and share your expertise in a low-stress environment. Also, there is no single way to network. Keep things fun and interesting by mingling outside your industry and comfort zone. With focused effort, you might be amazed at how easily you develop a circle of influence.
If you're ready to take your career to the next level, take these strategies with you. Well done for breaking the chains that bind and breaking the glass ceiling.
