Breaking Down the Barriers: How Women Can Achieve Success and Fair Compensation
As a young professional, I often wondered if women needed to be aggressive to reach the top of their careers. Was it the only way to succeed? Fortunately, my experiences have shown me that this perception is far from reality.
Through my work as a compensation consultant, I’ve had the opportunity to design and implement compensation programs for companies and work closely with C-Suite executives. This experience has given me a unique understanding of how pay decisions are made and how women can break through the glass ceiling.
The Key to Success: Playing to Your Strengths
Successful women don’t try to be someone they’re not. Instead, they recognize and leverage their unique strengths, which I call their “powerhouse personality.” There are four main types of powerhouse personalities: assertive, confident but humble, politically savvy, and fiercely loyal. By identifying and embracing their individual strengths, women can tap into their full potential and succeed in their careers.
Perception is Reality
When it comes to compensation, it’s not about telling management what your job is worth; it’s about convincing them that you as a person are worth a higher salary. Your unique experiences, impact on the organization, and performance all contribute to your perceived value. Men tend to naturally leverage their perceived value, while women need to do the same by playing to their strengths.
Understanding the Game of Compensation
Compensation is a game, and how you play it matters. Men often play the game better, but women can succeed by studying how their company approaches compensation and recognizing the game being played. By understanding the rules and leveraging their strengths, women can make strategic moves to earn promotions, raises, and bonuses.
A Winning Strategy
To achieve success and fair compensation, women should:
- Find their powerhouse personality: Identify and leverage their unique strengths to succeed.
- Convince the company of their value: Show management that they are invaluable to the organization.
- Play the game to win: Understand the rules of compensation and make strategic moves to achieve success.
By following these steps, women can break down barriers and achieve their career goals without sacrificing their authenticity or values.
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