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O P I N I O N
Nice girls can finish first, too
Women must stop apologizing, speak up, and stand tall if they want to be successful leaders.
I n the working world, there is a myth about nice girls: they’re weak, they’re push- overs, you can’t be both a nice girl and a leader. In a male-dominated industry like ours, it’s easy to fall into the role of people-pleaser or trying to be tough and ruthless. Women are often told “you’re too nice” or “you need to toughen up” and then when they do, they are put into a category that is construed as ambitious, bossy, and unlikeable.
Bridget Shane
How can women combat these stereotypes? And how can we advocate for our colleagues? Here are a few things to develop and maintain the confidence necessary to be a leader: 1)Remove “sorry” from your email. Women often fall into the habit of apologizing for things that don’t warrant an apology, especially over email. Before hitting reply, take a minute to craft your message. An easy way to do so is by swapping “sorry” for “thanks.” Instead of saying “sorry for the delay” try “thanks for your patience.” 2)Speak up assertively. When speaking to a group or even to another individual, it’s important to speak assertively and with confidence. To do this effectively, clearly define and set your needs or expectations, and make sure to use “I” statements and avoid “you” statements. For example, “I
understand your position, and I want to lay out my concerns for the record.” 3)Establish credibility. At work, your credibility is based on what your peers think of you. Do you meet deadlines on time? Does your work reflect your capabilities? To build your credibility, seek feedback from your superiors and colleagues, be open to constructive criticism, and then make changes. 4)Build personal relationships. Building strong personal relationships with colleagues will not only make your work life more enjoyable, it could also be a great way to develop your career. It’s a lot harder for someone to treat you poorly when they know you on a personal level. 5)Say no in a helpful way. In the workplace, people
See BRIDGET SHANE, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER January 13, 2020, ISSUE 1327
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