Without question, it’s complicated being a woman executive—particularly a successful one—as we’re expected to display both male and female traits effortlessly throughout our career. New research has uncovered yet another quality women are obliged to manifest if we want to succeed in today’s workplace. One not required of men.
It’s kindness .
Yes, for a woman to be considered confident and influential at work, she not only must be viewed as competent, she must also be liked.
[i] Interestingly, confidence isn’t determined by how women view themselves rather self-confidence is defined as appearing at work as others’ perception of whether an individual is confident about being able to meet his/her performance standards.
[ii]The bottom line for women is: competency cannot compensate for being disliked ….Even high job performance did not help less affable women to gain influence in their organization….and the penalty for being low on characteristics related to warmth is not proportionate for women.
[iii]It became clear in the research perception is the difference-maker for women who are high-potential players in their company rather than
job performance, which regrettably many believe to be their winning formula.While I intend to continue bringing the latest and greatest research for attaining more
influential roles, I’m tired of coaching women to be more confident, kinder, relationship creator executives.I want to know….when will women be recognized in today’s marketplace as more than enough just as they are?Much of the current research and advice has women altering themselves in order to replicate a man’s success. Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, it also points to not being good enough in your own right, and that isn’t the truth about women in business.Yes, men are powerful, profit, results producers, but so are women! Isn’t it time to address head on the double standard women experience every day?Related:
Career Transformation Starts With Four Switch-Points of ChangeThe change we want to see occurring starts first with us. It begins by respectfully standing for evenhandedness because our companies need both genders fully working together at their highest and best levels. Where we celebrate equally the varied talents and giftedness both sexes bring to the success of organizations.This message is a call to arms for an entirely new culture to emerge that’s both profitable and inclusive.
And it begins with us.
It will mean intentionally moving out of the shadows of dissatisfaction into the sunlight of a highly-valued, on-the-rise executive second to none. It’s respectfully finding out why you were passed over for the big promotion and then, putting a plan together to improve. If, however, the feedback you receive is nothing more than mumble-jumble speak for “you’re a woman,” loyalty to a culture and an organization who isn’t loyal in return will never gain you the keys to the kingdom. It’s calmly and directly having the tough conversations with your boss and human resources when your performance evaluation undervalues your contribution because of the double standard for women. It’s explicitly requesting more significant assignments when you note the men in your group receive the bulk of the stretch projects.Change begins with one small shift which soon becomes an avalanche of progress, and it requires each of us doing our part—not standing back steaming in silence.
[i] https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-work-successful-liked_us_59837533e4b041356ebeb350 [ii] https://faculty.insead.edu/natalia-karelaia/documents/Guillen%20Mayo%20Karelaia%202017%20Appearing%20self-confidence%20Gender%20In%20press.pdf [iii] Ibid
