The facts are sobering: Women still make 80% of what men do, they account for only 25% of the senior management in companies and fill less than 18% of the Board seats. The glass ceiling, while cracked, still exists. How do we break through?
The answer lies not in focusing on the external, professional glass ceiling but on breaking through our own internal, personal glass ceiling.
Women have the capability to change this world in an instant - when we realize it. The power is all there, waiting, within. Here are 5 ways to tap into it:
- Get Quiet
It is difficult, if not impossible, to hear what our inner voice is trying to tell us when we are rushing here and there and taking care of everyone but ourselves. Take a walk in nature, meditate, take a yoga class, or clean out a closet. By giving your conscious mind a break, you allow the subconscious to have its voice.
Make two lists: one of your values and one of your skills. How are you using and honoring both in your life? If you find gaps, here's a way to consciously align what you do with who you are.
A child instinctively knows the value in playing: to explore, to laugh, to connect and to grow. Adults need to do the same!
Find someone who has "been there/done that" and who can guide you and lift you up on your journey. Better yet, find a group of women who have your back!
When you become clear and confident in who you are, what you have to offer and why you deserve it, the rest of the path becomes much easier. Here's to the sound of breaking glass!
Janet M. Neal is the founder of The Superbwoman, Inc. (www.thesuperbwoman.com), an organization providing resources to break through both glass ceilings. The Tribe of Superbwomen (www.thetribeofsuperbwomen.com) is her latest endeavor, a give-to-get online community for successful Superbwomen.