In my own in-house survey of women in STEM, a common source of frustration they mentioned was seeing women constantly overlooked for promotion. A seasoned engineer I spoke with reported a lack of change in the number of women at conferences in her field over the last 20 years. In networking events, I hear a lot of frustration over finding ways to self-promote that doesn’t feel gross or inauthentic. As such, I was going to write an article on self-promotion tips, but I found no lack of resources out there.
There are a TON of great articles with advice on how to promote yourself as a woman in the working world. The ones I share below even talk about the shift between student mindset and employee mindset, and finding tactics that don’t just translate into “act more like a man”.
Four Ways Women Can Strategically Tout Their Accomplishments by Tara Mohr – FastCompany
Four Ways to Help Emerging Women Self-Promote by Selena Rezvani – Forbes
Stand Out for Success: The Secrets of Self-Promotion by Anne Libby – the Muse
There are just as many articles about why self-promotion is both critical for women to find success and a sure-fire way to be called “unlikeable”. The articles below are filled with data and statistics on both the cost and benefit of bragging while female.
Speaking While Female by Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant – New York Times
Why then, are we at a standstill when it comes to the percentage of females in leadership roles, especially in the STEM fields? Do the women I’m trying to help really need another advice article? Where is the disconnect?
McKinsey & Company’s 2018 report on Women in the Workplace shows that women are doing the work, networking, and even speaking up for their accomplishments and still not getting promotions at a rate even close to what men achieve. They rightly conclude that it’s on companies to step up and close the gap.
If companies continue to hire and promote women to manager at current rates, the number of women in management will increase by just one percentage point over the next ten years.
But if companies start hiring and promoting women and men to manager at equal rates, we should get close to parity in management—48% women versus 52% men—over the same ten years.McKinsey & Company- Women in the Workplace 2018
In the meantime, what can a woman in the trenches of an office mired in old patterns do to reach her goals?
Big Picture Ideas
Share the McKinsey report with your boss, and ask about what actions your company is taking to close the gap. Approach the topic with curiosity instead of hostility, and see if there is an action committee or other initiatives that you could participate in. If this isn’t an area that your company is dedicating resources to, and you don’t see a lot of promotions happening for women there, take that into consideration. Start asking yourself the big questions about how well this company aligns with your goals and the likelihood of finding support there. This goes for our male allies too! The more of us who push back on outdated policies, the more likely we are to see change happen in our lifetimes. There ARE companies out there who are doing more than just lip service when it comes to closing the gender gap. Realize that your assumptions about what types of companies and locations will be the most progressive could be wrong. Ask around, and if you’re actively job-hunting make it part of your priority to research companies and ask questions about what specific actions they are taking to increase the number of women in leadership roles within their company.
Being an “only” sucks. According to the McKinsey report: “One in five women is an Only, and they are having a significantly worse experience than women who work with more women. They are more likely to deal with microaggressions. They often feel on guard, pressured to perform, and left out. And they are almost twice as likely to have been sexually harassed during the course of their career.” So seek out mentors in your field, even if there are none available within your company. She+Geeks Out has a virtual mentoring program with Women Entering and Staying in Tech. The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has mentoring programs as well. Check out professional groups in your field and look at what’s available. Even if you’re not at the level of leadership you want to be yet, consider becoming a mentor! You only need to be a few steps ahead to help someone just starting out. Mentorship is a chance to realize how much you have to offer. It’s a great way to start speaking about your contributions outside of the negotiation meeting.
Immediate Steps
Read through the advice articles with a discerning eye, keeping in mind your own values and goals. Run them through your inner filter and gut-check them to see if they resonate.
Do some inner work before putting the advice into action. Examine whether imposter syndrome or wanting to be liked has been holding you back, and where your comfort level lies in terms of pushing the envelope. Work with a coach or a therapist if needed to overcome any old stories that no longer serve you.
Get clear on where you want to go with your career and why. Let these be your guide when it comes to choosing the advice that aligns with your personality as well as your goals. It’s a lot easier to make progress when your energy is pointed toward a clear direction.