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March has been Women’s history month since the 1980s. The celebration of Women’s History Month started in the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest. Forty-five years later, many women still fear showing themselves as they are.
Unfortunately, women are more likely to experience discrimination in the workplace than men. For instance, women held just 38% of manager positions, while men had 62%. When they don’t get promoted or feel underutilized, these feelings of inadequacy make many women hide their true selves, and their fears become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Then, the worst part of the discrimination is when those women end up believing it is true. They think they are not “good enough”. Therefore, they feel they must work harder than men to prove their value. No wonder more women than men suffer from imposter syndrome, lack of confidence and burnout.
Women learn to iron and dye their hair to look more professional. They need to avoid saying they have kids or avoid working from home so that they don't think they are slacking. They must hit the ground running when they return from maternity leave.
While companies and leaders need to continue working to increase equality in the workplace, women need to start embracing who they are and owning their truth.
Implement the following strategies to remove your daily blocks, become more self-aware and be empowered to advocate for yourself.
1) Visualize your north.
Connect with your purpose, ideas, desires and opportunities, and visualize what is possible.
- Don’t be afraid to be different. Connect with your past, your purpose, environment to find opportunities.
- Connect with others to drive more ideas.
- Be open to something different. new opportunities can come your way and you may not be seeing them.
2) Identify gaps, barriers and embrace them.
Ask yourself what you need to get there. Listen to your fears, identify what is holding you back and work on it.
- Learn to say NO when you don’t have time or are not interested
- Embrace your grays: accept who you are, including your not-so-great sides, they could become your differentiator. Having grey hair or unpolished nails is not a weakness. Not being creative or tough enough are not weaknesses either. They are perceptions, not truths or must-have, they can be practiced or improved if needed. Don’t judge yourself more than others and spend more time doing the work instead.
- Be compassionate with yourself. Your own thoughts may be your only weakness. Identify that negative self-talk, “I am not good enough”, “I don’t have anything new to offer”, or “Nobody listens to what I say”. Reframe these thoughts into more positive affirmations like “I can get better if I practice more before my presentation” or “some teammates will be interested in what I have to say”.
3) Identify your strengths.
Respect, share and utilize your superpowers and passions and complement them with the powers of others.
- Complement your strengths with the strengths of others instead of competing.
- Know yourself and highlight your strengths. keep them top of mind when those negative thoughts return.
- Get a coach, sponsor or mentor to help you shine in your niche. Even if you don’t know anybody else like you that have achieved it, you can be the first one.
4) Take action.
Empower yourself and others to move forward.
- Speak up, share your knowledge and ask questions. Communicate what you need. Ask for that raise or promotion!
- Form or become part of a support group; get a “buddy” or accountability partner.
- Focus on what you can control. Define a plan with small achievable steps that push you to continue moving forward.
Today, we can celebrate Women’s History Month by reducing our biases and reminding ourselves of our strengths and achievements. Because sometimes we are worst than our worst enemies. Start the change today with what you can control.
