Women, as the more creative of the human species, can also be more resilient. Following are creative strategies for success culled from the lessons learned from women who have failed a few times along the way.
1. Do guy’s stuff: Kathryn Bigelow has taken a lot of criticism over the course of her career for doing action and violence. It works for her!
2. Work-family works: Today’s work culture is more sensitive to the needs of families. If you do not have flexible work options, show your boss the mounting research on flex options and increased productivity.
3. Seek empowering workplace cultures: Bigelow was in the director’s chair. Workers who have more decision-making authority over their daily job functions are less susceptible to stress, burnout and absenteeism.
4. Age and experience matter: Women of a certain age are just moving into their own. Forget about ageism in Hollywood casting line-ups; direct the movie and do the casting.
5. Working smart: Long hours are not the way to the boardroom. Use your time wisely.
6. The engineer’s mindset: The strong demand for women in fields such as engineering is re-engineering out dated mindsets. Keep in mind that today you have more power in the equation.
7. Quantify everything: Women are at the top in sales for an important reason – performance is transparent and measured.
8. Balancing work and family: Family is a stress buffer, not another event to juggle on your schedule.
9. Take the Initiative: Women still need to do more to get to the same place. Work smarter not overtime. Be proactive. Look for opportunities to take anticipatory action.
10. Get up, brush yourself off, and start over again. Sandra Bullock said it best in her Oscar acceptance speech, “Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?”
Let us know what questions you have about strategic planning, business development, operational effectiveness, the human element at your firm, or whatever is on your mind!
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