12 Powerful Ways Women Can Level Up at Work

Written by: Gloria Martinez

Though times are changing, many women find it challenging to balance ambition and diplomacy in the workplace. Whether you’re aiming to get ahead, get along better with others, or just avoid burnout by balancing work with other responsibilities, check out these tips.

Brittani Simone offers these 12 powerful ways women can level up – no power suit needed.

Build Communication Skills

Communication is the cornerstone of a successful and rewarding career. But it’s about more than just the tone you use with coworkers in the break room. Consider these tips for building your skills and earning the positive attention you deserve at work.

●       Start saying “no” when it serves you, and practice techniques for each workplace audience, whether it’s your boss, co-workers, or employees.

●       Skip apologies and reframe your explanations for minor missteps by starting with “Thank you.”

●       Prioritize assertiveness with positive, careful language, good listening skills, and confidence.

●       Upgrade your professional presentations by keeping your points succinct, remaining aware of your nonverbal communication, and incorporating storytelling into your process.

Add Value to Your Role

Being good at your job is one thing. But adding value to your role – going above and beyond – is what will get you recognized and, most likely, promoted. Think about ways to deliver more without working 50-hour weeks.

●       Offer solutions when pointing out organizational problems, instead of expecting someone else to come up with the fix.

●       Do more in less time by prioritizing tasks by importance, automating repeatable tasks, block-scheduling your day, and implementing other productivity habits.

●       Infuse your personality and perspective with positivity and skip the workplace gossip; be diplomatic yet influential.

Keep the Future in Focus

Doing a good job is a solid approach in the workplace. To truly excel – and achieve the career of your dreams – you also need to focus on the longer view. Implement these strategies for shaping your career and preparing for success.

●       Adapt to – and welcome – constructive criticism that serves your goal of personal growth.

●       Partner with (or just follow) experts in your field to learn from their experiences, successes, and failures.

●       Forecast a few potential career paths and keep your options open while looking to the future.

●       Don’t discount the potential of becoming an entrepreneur or solopreneur.

●       These days, it’s faster and easier than ever to launch a business with all the legal trimmings.

Many women struggle with how to navigate the workplace, whether for fear of failure or because they don’t want to be perceived as being too powerful. With the right tools, such as the above resources, you can begin to orient yourself on the career ladder and start working your way up.

Even the best checklist for career success isn’t foolproof, of course. Find inspiration and ideas on where to go from here with Brittani Simone.

Photo via Unsplash