The infamous “glass ceiling” is blamed for business issues for
women from poor salaries to lack of corporate advancement. This
invisible barrier holds many women captive in unpleasant work
environments, settling for pay which is far below industry
averages, accepting weak titles and agreeing to poor advancement
opportunities.
Some say the glass ceiling is just a figment of the imagination
while others are sure it is a real blockade created to prevent
women from reaching corporate success. So, is your glass
(ceiling) half empty or half full? In other words, are you going
to be kept down by something you can’t even see or are you
willing to do what it takes to crack through and shatter this
issue?
If you’ve decided that as a woman it will be impossible for you
to reach corporate business success, then you are right. That
thought process will get you nowhere but where you are right
now. On the other hand, if you are part of the growing group of
women who want to break through to their own successes and
remove the glass altogether, then keep reading.
To move forward, you must analyze your own communication skills
and be brutally honest with yourself about your skill level.
Weak and ineffective business communication skills are often the
primary reason women feel held back in their careers and in
their lives.
Review this list to help determine where your skills stand. 1.
Do you ask for raises? 2. Have you ever asked for a promotion or
an improved job title? 3. Do you negotiate effectively for
yourself? 4. Are you able to specifically explain the value you
bring to your company or clients? 5. Are you an effective
presenter or public speaker? 6. Do you apologize for things that
aren’t your fault or are out of your control? 7. Review your
email or other writing. Do you start sentences with the word
“I”? 8. Do you see negotiating as a barrier to getting what you
want? 9. Do you have difficulty saying “no,” even when you
really want to? 10. Are you overwhelmed or consumed by stress?
11. Do you have difficulty explaining things or getting people
to understand what you are trying to say?
If you answered “no” to any or all of the first five questions,
then your assertive skills need an overhaul. If you answered
“yes” to any or all of questions six through 11, then your
communication skills are ineffective in helping you advance in
your career. Essentially, you could be creating your own glass
ceiling and holding yourself back.
Often, we are our own worst enemies.
To help put yourself back on the right track and stop
constructing transparent blockades to your own success, review
the three following PowHERful skills that will help put you on
top. 1. Ask for it If you want something, then ask for it. Make
it clear what you want and you are more likely to get it.
A university study of 40 employees found that men are more
likely to ask for things when they want them – AND they are more
likely to get what they ask for. Of the 20 women, only one asked
for a raise when first offered a job. She was granted the hike
in salary. Of the 20 men, 18 of them asked for a raise and all
18 were given it.
If you’re one of those people who thinks it’s better to
magically get something without asking for it, then don’t
complain when you don’t get it. Don’t expect people to read your
mind or know what you want. It’s simply not the way things work.
2.Learn to speak and present effectively. People who communicate
well in group settings are viewed as leaders. This perception
will get you noticed and help you stand out as someone who is
worthy of promotion and other opportunities and bonuses. The
number one reason why most people are terrible presenters stems
back to speech development. The purpose of business
presentations are to inform, persuade or both. Therefore, the
structure of the presentation must be clear and not bogged down
with unnecessary information.
One of the biggest mistakes presenters make is trying to fit too
much information into too short a period of time. They jam
paragraphs of information on slides and handouts and begin to
drone, ignoring time restrictions and forgetting completely
about the audiences needs. Simplify your presentation and only
have highlights and supporting information on slides and
handouts. Don’t overwhelm your audience with too much
information at once and avoid having more than five main points
for the entire presentation.
The adult human brain can only absorb small chucks of oral
information at one time. If you have to present for long periods
of time, be sure to build in small breaks – even if the breaks
are only five minutes.
Presenting to a group may be nerve-racking, even paralyzing for
many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Effective presenters
know the simple secrets on how to craft and deliver good
speeches. If you feel scattered, nervous or ineffective when you
present to groups, you owe it to yourself and your career to
take a public speaking training course or at least buy an audio
CD or book on how to improve your skills.
3.Quantify and Present Value When volleying for a raise, a
promotion or new client contract it is crucial that you know how
to specifically explain value. Though it is impossible to
quantify the value of everything, most things can be measured.
When you communicate in quantifiable terms, people are more
likely to understand the value. If you can quantify the gain of
doing what you want or the loss by not doing it, you will be
more successful in getting it.
Rather than telling your boss you want a raise, quantifiably
show him why he should give the raise to you.
Weak Raise Request: “I’ve been with the company for a long time
and I’m a good and dependable employee who works hard.”
PowHERful Raise Request: “Over the last 18 months, the six
software projects I worked on for the company have attributed to
a 13% reduction in customer complaints, a 29% increase in
production, and a 43% increase in online orders. These
improvements have resulted in a $1.5 million in profits for the
company.” See how the quantified example got right to the
“bottom line”? It is here, at the bottom line where nearly all
business decisions are made. Let the numbers do the persuading
for you. Numbers are tangible. Numbers are concrete. Numbers
mean value. Value speaks volumes.
By mastering the above three skills and continuing to improve
your assertive communication skills you will no longer be
trapped by the glass ceiling or any other barrier which may get
in you way. You will be an assertive, powHERful business person
worthy of raises, promotions and anything else you decide you
deserve.