Challenges Women Face Achieving Power

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Challenges Women Face Achieving Power

Challenges Women Face Achieving Power

The challenges women face achieving power and how to resolve them.

The workplace is a different environment for men and women. We face challenges they will never encounter and may not even be aware of. Challenges like:

Disrespect is ‘normal’. When you have high profile leaders like Donald Trump making rude or patronising comments about women, others follow on. Often people (men and other women) assume the women in the room is a junior or assistant, even when she’s the leader.

Lack of female representation. Just a couple of months ago we saw the Liberal party under fire for their apparent exclusion of women from power. A close look at the parties shows that women aren’t well represented in any of them. Greens Senator Larissa Waters says, “it is “no wonder” sections of the community practice disrespectful behaviour to females, arguing such behaviour is “being tolerated” within parliament itself.”

The struggle to be hired or promoted. A 2018 report from Women in the Workplace shows “ Although women earn more bachelor’s degrees than men, and have for decades, they are less likely to be hired into entry-level jobs.” It also found that “Women are less likely to be hired into manager-level jobs, and they are far less likely to be promoted into them.”

Women are financially disadvantaged. Women are often paid less than men, yet they pay the same price for their education. How will they repay that huge HELP debt when they are paid less and sometimes lose even more income as they manage most of the family duties?

It certainly looks like the odds are stacked against us when it comes to achieving any sort of power.

Why only women can overcome these challenges.

The thing is, we can’t sit and wait for someone to do something about it. We’ve got to overcome the challenges for ourselves, and honestly, we women are the only ones who can do it.

I believe we need to start right at ground level and change our mindset around power and leadership.

  • In groups that make decisions by majority rule, women “not only talk less than men, but they talk much less than their presence in the group”
  • Women in the Workplace report shows young women are less confident of fulfilling their ambitions.
  • Women are hesitant about self-promotion, yet men do it easily.

These are just a few examples of how we might be holding ourselves back and until we change our mindset, we won’t be strong enough to reach power or handle it well when we get it.

We won’t achieve gender equality if we behave as though we’re less worthy. Avenues to power won’t open for us unless we knock on the door.

We have brains, talents and opinions. If we don’t start sharing our ideas and questioning the status quo, how will the change begin? It’s OK to question things. We’re working towards the same goals as our male peers, not fighting against them.

How will this make a difference?

When we change our perception of ourselves, we change our behaviour, we change our expectations and we change what we’re prepared to accept.

When we start to believe in ourselves, anything is possible. It takes just one person to point out an inequality for it to be noticed. Imagine what might happen if women worked together and supported each other to point out the challenges and eliminate them. That’s why it’s so important for women to build solid networks inside and outside the workplace.

How do we start the change?

  • Be an active contributor in meetings and discussions. Don’t just sit and let things happen. Prepare yourself beforehand and research the topic so you can contribute usefully and considered information.
  • Step up and stop questioning yourself. You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful. We have an influence on society and social expectations. What we do today will change the world for ourselves and the women coming along behind us.
  • Build your networks. The road to the top can be unclear and it usually takes more than skills, knowledge and experience to pull off the top jobs. Work on your relationships and start gaining influence.
  • If you’re already in a senior leadership role and you feel more like a sitting duck than a role model for the women following you, call on your network to back you up, even if it’s only to boost your morale.
  • Be an active self-promoter. It’s not bragging if you’re sharing facts. Men do it and so should we. If you’ve had an achievement, mention it. If you’ve had a success, talk about it. Of course, keep it in context, but remember; your success reflects well on your team and your manager. It’s good for you all.

Start the change right now, wherever you are. You’re not just doing it for yourself but for the generations following along behind us. We can all take action today that help us overcome the challenges women face achieving power

If you’re ready for change, I’d love to hear from you. Come join the revolution of female empowerment, come join the ambitious female revolution, today.

 

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I am a Mum, business founder, author and accomplished CEO with over 20 years’ experience in the corporate world. My childhood dream was to become a fighter pilot, but when that didn’t materialise, I found my place in the corporate world, climbing the sales and marketing ladder to my role as CEO of Cox & Kings Australia.

I'm the founder of Empowering Ambitious Women, I've led start-ups to companies with annual revenues from $55 million to more than $250 million. My role as CEO of Australia’s leading franchise network of professional builders saw me as a pioneer in the industry; as a female CEO leading a large franchise home building company.

I was formally recognised twice by the Telstra Business Women's Awards my achievements in business.

As a woman who became one of the 16% of female CEOs, and who has led in male-dominated industries, I’m passionate about creating pathways for women leaders to step up, take a seat at the table and own it.

I love; French champagne, socialising, dining out and having an impact...

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