Recently, one of my Facebook friends posted a status that listed “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Professional Women”. It included points that I deeply believe in and so I wanted to share it (along with some other posts) with everyone.
Feel free to share your thoughts on any of the points…or add more!
1. They know how to manage up
Managing up is as simple as knowing your manager’s style — and adjusting your own to meet theirs.
This includes understanding your boss’s preferred method of communication, and being able to anticipate their responses by already having the answers to questions they will ask.
Do what you can to make your boss’s job easier and you are already ahead of the pack!
2. They build a network
You must consider the importance of having a well-rounded network! This does not mean that if you are a small business owner, that 80% of your network should include the same.
Your network should be diverse enough to be sure you have access to different opportunities AND it must allow you the room to be able to refer or make connections between colleagues that may not know each other.
3. They are strategic about their brand
You must know that your success is based upon how well you manage your reputation. Are you known for doing as little as you can to get by or “going the extra mile, in order to provide good service, or advice?
Your reputation is so much more than what’s written on your resume or the statues you post on Facebook. The Internet makes it possible for everyone to establish a brand!
4. They position themselves globally
I think that as women, we tend to only think about how we can affect outcomes within our comfort zone, our place of worship, around the office, within our families, etc.
We don’t naturally think about learning multiple languages, or understanding the world currencies…just for extra knowledge. I believe that if we challenge ourselves to think along these lines, we learn the advantages of people that can position themselves to be available when a global opportunity presents itself.
5. They continuously develop themselves
I appreciate the way Wikipedia defines Lifelong Learning, “…the “lifelong, voluntary, and self-motivated” pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons.
As such, it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development, but also competitiveness and employability.” LOVE IT!
We have to be open to learning more and increasing knowledge in other areas outside of our “major” study. If you studied Network Administration in college, can you also take course in web development? (I did!)
6. They take risk to get noticed
A lot of times we’d rather play it safe in the planning of our career. We stay in positions that are no challenge for us, or we remain silent about an opinion we have because we don’t want to create a debate or a scene that will challenge others.
Some of us are safe with playing a shrinking violent in most circumstances. But we have to realize that if we don’t take risks in our career, we may never make strides to get to our goals. Have you ever taken a salary cut, because of a desire career change (when you wasn’t forced to)?
Have you ever disagree with the boss, but was able to share instances on why your thought should be considered? Take some risks in your career, they may turn out to be some of your best decisions!
7. They never ever play the DIVA
Be pleasant and helpful to everyone from the BOTTOM UP, use your influence wisely – you never know who knows who, nor who you may have an opportunity to work with on projects. It never pays to be nasty.
