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Taking on Responsibility at Work

Women and career development – an important topic because many still assume that they do not want to pursue a career. ⁠Psychologist Dr. Johanna Disselhoff once put together for you what role our self-confidence and our goals actually play in making a career in the new sisterMAG issue – and how a woman can take responsibility in the job! ⁠

Taking on Responsibility at Work

Career

What role does self-confidence and ambition play in our climb up the career ladder? 

Women don’t want to take on responsibility at work – What role does self-confidence and ambition play in our climb up the career ladder?

Which goals?

Which roles?

WOMEN ARE SIMPLY NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING A CAREER OR TAKING ON LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES.

This is the explanation that male-dominated corporations still use to explain why little or no women are in management. That women have children, take maternity leave and then prefer to work part-time is often cited as evidence that job and career are right at the bottom of their priority list. The fact that women have been kept small and systematically prevented from pursuing a career regardless of family plans is often swept under the rug. Women are not just actively stopped from reaching their career goals but the jobs themselves often require pseudo-confidence over results. In other words, people with big egos can assert themselves far easier than those without. This creates an unfair selection and has many talented and intelligent women questioning why they should waste their energy. Energy trying to prove themselves in a superficial working world.

Women do not merely want to adapt to the current job rules and pursue a male-orientated career. They want to take on responsibility and be successful professionals, but not in a system in which public image is more important than actual ability. As long as professional progress is only measured by your overtime, a career will remain an unexciting prospect for many women. This is also where many companies are short-sighted in their work ethic. Women lead differently; they think ahead, prioritise the well-being of the company and its employees and strive for overall growth. Thanks to these typically female leadership strengths, women-run companies work more sustainably and take fewer risks.

WE NEED A BETTER SOLUTION THAN MERELY SUGGESTING THAT WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO TAKE ON JOB RESPONSIBILITY. WOMEN DO WANT A CAREER AND CAN LEAD COMPANIES – EXTREMELY WELL IN FACT. AND IT IS NOT ABOUT GIVING WOMEN A CHANCE EITHER. WE NEED A CHANGE IN THE WORKPLACE AND CLOSURE OF THE GENDER GAP.

Men in black suits working continuous late nights to impress the boss; women not being taken seriously or maternity-leave meaning the end of a career — those days should be long gone. Female leadership is an opportunity for us all.

No matter what career phase you are in right now or what you are doing, I would like to encourage you to take responsibility. If something is to change in our working world, then we all have to take action because it’s up to US! But don’t worry, there is no need to change all your plans. There are some simple steps you can take to further your career and make sure you are no longer overlooked in your job. So start planning your career right now!

STEP 1:

CLARIFY WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE PROFESSIONALLY.

Do you want management responsibility? Is becoming a team leader your target? Or do you want to start your own company? Write down your goals as precisely as possible, what you want to accomplish and what is really important to you. Give yourself a few days on this task and keep writing down ideas until your plan is crystal clear.

STEP 2:

TALK TO YOUR MANAGERS OR SUPERIORS. IF YOU ARE EMPLOYED AND HAVE PROFESSIONAL GOALS, THEN YOU SHOULD COMMUNICATE THEM CONTINUOUSLY.

This includes discussing your company ideas and career plans during the annual appraisal interview. If you have no appraisal interview or it’s at a later date, then ask your boss for a career interview and voice your concerns. This step is extremely important, even if it requires some courage on your part. Many people shy away from career confrontations, but managers have a lot on their plate. They often don’t notice an employee’s ambition and are grateful for the feedback.

STEP 3:

WORK ON YOURSELF CONTINUOUSLY AND LEARN HOW TO SELL YOURSELF.

In a professional context, women often avoid showing others how a job can be done well. Visibility in your job means having confidence in yourself and how you communicate. Part of your career strategy should be to develop your self-assertion and deliver clearly and directly. This will avoid costly misunderstandings, increase reliability and trust and your superiors will remember you.

Learn how to sell yourself.