Women can do amazing things when they support each other. This support enhances both our personal and our professional lives. When we celebrate each other’s accomplishments, everyone benefits. Supporting one another does not mean it diminishes ourselves, but rather we make each other stronger. Especially at work, women need to be allies and push back against gender bias. With this support, women can go further in their careers much faster and get the recognition they deserve. Here are some ways for women to connect effectively to help each other at work.
Celebrate Accomplishments
Look for opportunities to celebrate your female co-workers’ accomplishments.
Not only does this lift everyone up, but it provides opportunities to get our efforts noticed by others. Some women have a tendency to downplay their accomplishments and act like they just “were lucky” or were taught to avoid self-promotion. When we take the opportunity to voice our praise for our female associates, it gets their accomplishments noticed by higher-ups and male associates.
Support Women to Avoid Stereotypical Labels
Many women get bullied in the workplace by men, but even worse, by other women. They can be labeled as “shrill,” “bitchy,” or “bossy,” to name a few terms. That attitude pulls all women down. Often, it is just women doing their jobs. If a male associate behaves in a “bossy” manner, he is often praised for it. Some women feel threatened in the workplace feeling that they have to belittle others to make themselves rise. Let’s ditch that mean girls approach and instead, use one of support and sisterhood, and celebrate each other and our triumphs.
Encourage Women to Go For It
In the workplace, women often face an uneven playing field where they need to work harder to prove they are capable. We have been programmed to underestimate our potential and attribute any failures to lack of skills. This often results in low confidence that holds women down for assignments and promotions. If a female co-worker seems to be avoiding taking the next step by saying she is not ready to go forward with a new project, remind her of what she has already accomplished and offer to be a source of help, should she need it.
Look for Opportunities to Give Female Associates Input
When you feel it is warranted, help woman associates by sharing feedback on a situation. Use feedback as a positive rather than a feared negative. This can help women to see things from an alternate point of view and set new directions and goals to overcome a situation. Of course, this must always be done in a professional manner, not a way to degrade or blame someone. Feedback can be a gift that can benefit others as well as ourselves when we need it.
Mentor Other Women
Mentoring is a way to open doors and create new opportunities for other women. Men have done this for years. It is time women do the same. If you are early in your career, you can offer advice and input to women just starting out. Those in a more senior position can go beyond this and use their influence to advocate for their mentee. Take the time to mentor other women. Sponsorship is an amazing way for female leaders to help women early in their careers.
We have all heard the myth that women don’t support each other. Let’s throw that myth to the curb and show what can be accomplished by championing and supporting each other. And who knows, maybe we can even create a more equal playing field in the workplace.