As more and more organisations hiring women, NAVNEET SINGH shares tips on how they can reach the top slot

It is our choices that show, what we truly are, far more than our abilities

— JK Rowling

The above aphorism stands true in most of the circumstances we encounter in our lives. Similar is the case with female presence and growth in corporates. There is a tightrope walk between work and life for them and being able to manage their personal and professional aspirations is a big time achievement. And in today’s world, “Be yourself” isn’t sufficient. We need to acquire knowledge daily, familiarise ourselves with it and become proficient in no time.

According to McKinsey study on women in workplace, women are less likely to be hired into entry-level jobs than men and as we climb up the corporate ladder, the disparity increases. The ratio stands to be 79:100 when it comes to promotion to management level.

If we pick a red ball from the jar containing 79 red and 100 green balls, probability of red ball being picked up would definitely be less. Second, Pyramid narrows as we become senior and competition becomes fierce. Therefore, it becomes more important for female workforce to perform and acquire some extra ordinary skills which stands them apart and if not apart, equivalent to men at that level.

Sync between skills in demand and skills women possess: Problem solving, time management, communication skills, teamwork ability, good work ethics are the skills which are considered at first place to promote a person to managerial level. Employers expect hybrid skills from employees which are combination of technical and soft skills. Hence, it is very much necessary for women to brush up the technological skills. Also, social media skills, knowledge related to Content Management Systems, and specific data entry tools are considered an added advantage and will distinguish you from others.

Networking: The second critical asset for progress is networking. Build a strong professional network since organisations are all about people. Enroll in seminars and workshops. They would give you better visibility in the professional world and help with better networking opportunities. Nurturing relationships is mutually beneficial.

Women can broaden their access to opportunities by raising their professional profiles. Being in the network of stakeholders, who would be in right roles to make decision or influence decision, helps a lot. They can guide through all the career transitions and sometimes on personal front as well.

Adaptability: Mid-career drop-offs for women are common and this can be justified as well. This is the time when relationships and life related decisions are to be made. On the other hand, provision of right opportunities at the organisation level goes a long way in helping women stay focused on their career goals. Hence, it is all about a woman’s conscious career management and balancing life choices and transitions.She should not let her dreams fade away.

Smart work-life balance also means focusing on health, fitness and being happy from inside. This would lead a woman to achieve smart multi-tasking goals and consequently increase her productivity at workplace.

Able to raise the hand: Sometimes opportunities are not visible. They do not present themselves. Woman needs to bold enough to ask for them. And for it, she should:

• Explore strengths by understanding the workplace
• Build credibility
• Understand future work options
• Develop herself financially strong
• Be confident

Raising hand will also strengthen her emotionally and remind her that she should never forget her aspirations. They can face more challenges than men. They can excel more than men. They can climb the corporate ladder faster than men. They just need to take care of certain skills.