Tips for Women to Strengthen Their Leadership Power at the Office  

Most women are gifted with key traits that help them immeasurably as leaders in the workplace.  In fact, for many, the seed of successful management skills is often generated and later strengthened at home, via the roles of daughter, mother, partner, and mentor. Through this, many women learn to handle multiple priorities, as well as to cultivate a good sense of patience. That said, there are always ways to better harness those strengths for incremental success.

Tips and Insights on Empowerment for Women at Work and at Home

Always Ask for More
The rule of life is that, many times, you will not be given anything unless you are willing to ask for it.  This can be true at work, regarding your salary or a promotion, or even at home, in situations involving your family. The bottom line is that people cannot read your mind or your closed mouth. So it’s time to stand up and ask for things.  Here are tips and guidelines to help you do that:

Tips:

• As we all know, even a mother doesn’t know when to feed her child unless he/she asks for it. Similarly, in business, unless you show energy and enthusiasm and voice an opinion on what you really deserve, very few times will people take note of what you are feeling inside.
• It’s not always about consistently delivering. It is about showing the hunger for rising, combined with a sense of humility. You can manifest this attitude both while working  with your boss, internally, and with external management leaders.
• Look for a mentor outside your current team, learn from their experiences, then demonstrate what you have learned by taking a project to completion, and “marketing” it, as needed.

Do Not Get Intimidated
Be fearless! Technology is one of the areas where we see far fewer females than men. But women are definitely equal in every sense. Stand and speak up so that everyone understands how you need to be treated. As Oprah Winfrey has rightly said:   ”Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”

Tips:

• Do not feel differently – as a female — when you are in a team meeting with all men and you are all by yourself.
• Always think positively. Be a problem-solver.
• Fear causes a loss of fortune and creates more hurdles for you mentally than physically. It may be smart in life to sometimes prepare yourself for the worst, but don’t forget that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Always Promote Yourself
We all hear about professional self-promotion via various webinars and live sessions from excellent coaches. It’s time to apply it. Hard work is one aspect of showing the world what you’re made of, but in order to be noticed, it’s extremely important to build a network. Do not consider it bragging! You can be humble and still promote yourself.

Tips:

• • Engage yourself in the networking events within your company, as well as outside. (For instance, lot of companies have Women in Technology groups, as well as cohort meetings.) Be an active volunteer. From my personal experience, I can share that it has been a great breakthrough knowing other women leaders; this has given me an opportunity to promote change without getting stuck in the politics of middle management.
  • Bring the networking experience back to your teams. Promote young women /girls in your team by giving them opportunities to succeed.

Leverage Natural Managerial Skills
Women are born natural caretakers and are strong when it comes to building ties and management skills. The rule of management, as mentioned before, can even begin at home and be enhanced at the office. So articulate that skill. You don’t need to be nice at all times, but it’s important  to be assertive for the right things, at the right time.

Tips:

• Understand the dynamics of a situation that requires some authority — and then act accordingly. Listening before — or instead of — speaking can help resolve situations quickly and effectively. Always react to the situation in a calm, intelligent manner.
• Control your emotional triggers: it is very hard to control emotions when you see a difficult situation in the workplace occurring that requires immediate action. So take a moment to gather your emotions before communicating your viewpoint or opinion.
• At work, do not try to nurture your team like a mother. The goal is to push your team members to teach them the survival skills and not hold their hands at all times. This will reduce their ability to do self-learning. This rule also holds true when we are dealing with kids at home.

Mentors/Sponsors
It is crucial that women support other women. Look for what you want to be and approach men or women to build that connection:

Tips:

• • Networking events are the best venue to meet like-minded and inquisitive people. You can partner with them and learn from them.
  • Network at events that are outside your industry as well.  Take advantage of every moment and try to avoid networking missteps.

Know Your Limits 
As women, we play multiple roles in a day, as a leader at work, and as a mom, partner or a daughter at home. However, don’t forget that you are an individual who needs to spend some time on yourself as well. Be cognizant about your own needs and always strive towards what you want to be.

Tips:

• • Be mindful about your strengths and weaknesses: This will help you in working in the areas where you need more knowledge. Look for help if you need anytime.
  • Set your own boundaries: Do not shy away from saying “no” when you need to say “no,”  thus recognizing the vulnerability and the integrity of your goals.

Act Like a Leader
Let’s face it: men make-up the bulk of the workforce. So, be an active participant when it comes to speaking up, making decisions, and committing on behalf of yourself and your teams. Do not let gender come in your way at any point.  Always remember, you are unique and you can make a difference.

Tips:

• • Lead by example.
  • Do not shy away from speaking up. Be prepared to hear “no” to some requests, but that does not have to be the end, it can be the beginning of measured negotiation.
  • Bridge gaps across various people and be a game-changer.
  • Make teams a part of the ideas, and give them the opportunity to change processes.

Expand Your Circle of Influence
If you are passionate about something, move the needle, and lead by example. Be open for getting feedback during this journey, and you may find you have more hands and heads to help you achieve your dreams than you thought you would. There will always be noisy folks on the side, but learn to filter that noise. It’s tough, but it can be done!

Tips:

• Grow yourself. See what you can do to promote yourself.
• Choose your battles — i.e. which one is worth investing/fighting for.

Work-Life Balance
Life is full of surprises!  Priorities do matter, and having a good balance with everything else going around is extremely helpful. Always remember: “Jobs and functions are replaceable, but family is not.” I am not suggesting anyone sacrifice their aspirations on behalf of the families; however sharing the workload with other members in the family is extremely important for everyone to succeed.

Tips:

• Have your priorities straight. Never miss kids’ performances or games or the moment where they want you to be with them.
• Remember, family comes first, and job comes second.
• Work smarter, not harder.
• Do take time for yourself on a regular basis.  This will help you keep a healthy identity and ensure you never forget who you are.

Be Independent
The era in which we live seems to demand that everyone to be independent. When I was growing up, my mother inspired me with the idea that I needed to be independent regarding any kind of job or any passion I wanted to pursue. This was so inculcated in me that I started working when I was twenty, and have never looked back since! Independence brings uniqueness in your branding and uplifts your personality.

Tips:

• Stand on your own two feet. Survival brings strength and independence, and adds dignity to your personality.
• Independence then brings in more mobility and self-confidence.

Be Guilt-Free
As women, we always tend to feel guilty when it comes to sacrificing at home or with kids. But as long as your priorities in life and at work are set straight, we need to carve out time for ourselves as well. Never live a life with guilt!

Insights from inspiring women:

• “In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman”  – Margaret Thatcher
• “A women is like a teabag: you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”  – Eleanor Roosevelt