Career

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that an incredibly accomplished woman may find herself held back… Held back from achieving her aspirations, from stepping into her leadership potential and from becoming even more accomplished.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that an incredibly accomplished woman may find herself held back… Held back from achieving her aspirations, from stepping into her leadership potential and from becoming even more accomplished.

I’ve had some incredibly enlightening conversations this week with smart, mid-career professional women who, like me, fell into the sneaky trap of being the notorious “go-to girl.” Maybe you can relate. Are you known as the Jack of all trades, the fix-it woman, or have you earned the label of “reliable”? Oh boy, it’s time to take a closer look.

The mistake I see many mid-career professional women making is thinking that the way to be seen, heard, recognised and promoted is… to work harder and do more.

I really don’t know how that would be possible though, because most of the professional women I speak to are already working super hard.

Time for a truth bomb: You won’t get what you want. You get what you tolerate. Harsh, I know, but it’s so true.

Standards that aren’t aligned to your expectations of how you should be treated are a surefire way to limit your leadership potential and leave you working far too hard and in a way that depletes and drains you.

From the time we enter the workforce, we’re programmed to believe that being headhunted is a good thing. We work hard for our talent to be recognised by the powers that be, in the hope that they simply can’t help but throw opportunities our way!

So, how did I come to be a women’s leadership coach?  

Like all good stories, the journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. I help women dig deep from a place not just of expertise but also from experience. I’ve felt that sense of career frustration and resentment. Let me tell you my story… 

Imagine this….

You’re sitting in the car park at work with a splitting headache and with that sinking feeling of here we go again. The 3 coffees you’ve downed already to give you a bit of an energetic lift haven’t helped; in fact, you feel more than a little shaky. Your phone has lit up like a Christmas tree with fires you’re expected to put out, yet all you want to do is book a room at the nearest hotel, close the blinds and sleep for days.

Yesterday we farewelled my partner’s Mum… at the ripe old age of 101!

Sadly, I never got to know her before dementia stole her memory and much of her spark, but Betty clearly was a special woman. As I sat in the chapel listening to her life story, I reflected on how different her life would have been if she had lived in a different era.

You’ve had time to reflect over the summer break and you’ve come to the decision that a new job is on your list of goals for the year. Good for you!
Perhaps you’re looking for greater job satisfaction, more money, better corporate culture, more variety, more flexibility, a leader who inspires you or to have a greater impact. Whatever the reason… you know that it’s going to take time and energy.

The days are getting warmer and the evenings longer which means we are on the downhill stretch to Christmas, the silly season and the end of the year.
And with restrictions finally lifted – it’s time to get out and about and connect… in person.

How you show up at work matters. The type of energy you bring to your work impacts your effectiveness while also shaping your professional reputation. It’s not something many of us give much consideration to, but it can absolutely influence our outcomes and whether or not new and exciting opportunities come our way.

Is it possible that you are your worst enemy when it comes to progressing your career? Are you playing small, ruling yourself out or holding back from stepping up to the next level of leadership?

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have the gift of turning everything they touch into gold? They lead the best teams, they achieve exceptional results and get noticed and promoted more often. And to top it off … they seem have everything sorted in their life outside of work too.

Over recent weeks I’ve been reflecting on how much the professional landscape has changed since March 2020. The way we work, where we work and what we work on, has in many ways changed forever.
And right now, we are transitioning to yet another new phase of uncertainty and change as we move towards opening up and “living with COVID.”

Growth is never easy,

One of the most challenging parts of up-levelling in our careers is navigating our way through, what I call, the ‘messy middle’.

The ‘messy middle’ is the often uncomfortable part of our growth – that sits between our old habits, behaviours, strategies and ways of thinking, and the ones our Future Self needs us to step into, to progress and move forward.

Have you noticed that right now the job market is HOT! Many organisations are falling over themselves to keep their best people or poach top talent from elsewhere.

As humans we are wired for comfort. It’s why we resist change. It’s why we get stuck in a role that no longer works for us. It’s why we say no to amazing professional development opportunities. It’s why we avoid tackling the big issues or having the difficult conversations.

If you are in the market for a new role (and let me tell you the job market is HOT right now) then please listen up.

Most women I meet are going about their job search all wrong. It’s costing them valuable time, emotional energy and access to the best opportunities that are most likely to bring joy and fulfilment.

Mastering workplace politics is the pathway to the next level of leadership.
Eek! If you hate the very idea of workplace politics, I want you to hear me out.

I agree it’s icky and can be a truly ugly game.

If there’s one common denominator among all the mid-career professional women I meet, it’s that they’re busy.

Have you noticed that many women underestimate their abilities and fail to shine a light on their performance? Are you one of those women? If you are … you are absolutely not alone. Here’s how to build the courage to step into all you are capable of.

Have you ever been overlooked, or missed out on a promotion or a role that you think is perfect for you? Missing out on a role can feel like rejection. As a result, we can feel confused, frustrated and self-doubt starts to creep in. Here’s how to respond…

More than ever, we need to be creating our very own professional support team.

I want to take this opportunity to ask you …

The average Australian spends 1831 hours working, every year! 1831 hours! And if you are anything like the vast majority of the hard working professional women I help, your number is likely to be much more than this…

All the mid career women leaders I meet want to do a great job.

The trouble is, many of them think that a great job = a perfect job.

And while intentionally created, high quality work is a must, perfect work can do more harm than good.

Here’s how…

Leaders are paid to think, not just do.

In fact, thinking is what I like to call Queen Bee work, whereas when you are stuck deep in the doing… that’s Busy Bee work.

Let me clarify further …

Over the summer break, you’ve had time to reflect, particularly in light of the impact of COVID-19 during the past year. Perhaps you’ve had the opportunity to see yourself, your career, and your priorities…

The days are getting warmer and the evenings longer, but this does not mean that it’s time to put your career aspirations on hold, That time will come but here’s what I suggest you focus on first.

You’re working hard, getting results and building a strong team, so what is stopping you from being seen and recognised?

It may be that you’re spending too much time being a Busy Bee, and not a Queen Bee!

Let me explain …

Many mid-career women I speak to feel that accepting a growing workload and being willing to work long hours is the price they must pay to be considered for promotion.

There’s no doubt that the more senior you become – the more responsibility you take on…

Do you consider that you’ve been lucky in your career? I’ve heard many women claim that their career success has been due to luck.
But is this luck at play or is it something else?

If your career progress has stalled it may well be time to focus on raising your visibility. You are unlikely to have the type of impact you want to have or to get recognised for the work you do – if no one knows who you are, what you do and how well you do it.

Yes, it really is that simple.
What you believe to be true (whether it is true or not) influences the words you use on a consistent basis. If you don’t believe you are worthy of your position, if you don’t believe the targets really can be met, if you don’t believe in the talents of your team… it will come out subtly in the words you use.

We all have the same amount of time available to us but have you noticed that some people are able to get much more done while remaining calm and unflappable… but how do they do it?
If your everyday workload regularly leaves you feeling overworked, overwhelmed, and frazzled then it’s time to work smarter not harder.

The rate and extent of workplace change that we have witnessed in just a few short months has been huge. The way we work, where we work and, most importantly, what we work on, has in many ways changed forever. We don’t yet know yet what the new normal will look like – but we can be sure that most organisations will not slip back into business as usual.

There is no denying it – Coronavirus has brought about massive change and it’s become abundantly clear that no job is 100% secure.

But then again, has your job really been that secure anyway?? The truth is NO. No job has ever been 100% secure, but in this environment, job security has become even more of a myth.

As we begin the run down to the end of the year, are you beginning to feel the pressure to get projects completed, lift the team to new levels or ramp up efforts to meet KPI’s and budgets?

Women often tell me they are already running hard and are not sure how they can do even more – both in and out of work…

I recently told an incredible woman that she would not make partnership at her firm. Harsh, but it was the truth she needed to hear. She was hardworking, dedicated and reliable. She had a long history of delivering good work. So how could I be so certain to be bold enough to give her the very direct advice about her prospects to make partnership?

I’ve had a number of conversations this week with smart, mid-career professional women who have fallen into the trap of being the “go-to girl.” Perhaps you too are the go-to girl. Or you might be known as the Jack of all trades, the fix-it woman or have earned the label of “reliable”…

A career plateau, if left to fester too long can damage your reputation, minimize your career opportunities and leaving you feeling miserable about your work. Although it doesn’t happen overnight, it can sneak up on us and take us unawares. For a time we can hum alone – having and impact, …

Opportunity Is Knocking. Will You Answer The Call? [jc_buttons] The time is now! Opportunity is knocking for professional women. Ladies, our time is now. A change has been brewing over the last couple of years and now it’s knocking loudly on our door. Do you feel it? Women all over the world are refusing to …

Continue reading “Opportunity Is Knocking. Will You Answer The Call?”

The number 1 mistake mid career professions make when job searching. Job searching. I don’t think it’s anyone’s favourite thing to do. It takes effort. It takes time. And it takes mental and emotional energy. It requires soul searching and at times it can be soul destroying. We’ve all experienced the …

How to own your value and leverage your talent Almost every week women tell me that they are capable of more but are struggling to make their mark within their organisation or industry. These women are brilliant and their unique talents are much needed in the modern workplace. Their CV’s document …

Are you ruling yourself out without even realising it? Is it possible that you are ruling yourself out or holding yourself back from getting that next big break, exciting opportunity or promotion? I’m not saying you’re doing it consciously. Most often it’s totally unconscious. We don’t mean to hold ourselves back. …

Have you ever thought … if I work hard, I will get noticed and soon I will be promoted and get the pay rise I deserve? Unfortunately career and leadership success and getting the recognition you deserve doesn’t only come through hard work. Yes it is part of the equation but …

What to do to be considered for the best roles Picture this. There is a group of senior leaders sitting around a table discussing some new exciting projects. They are throwing around the names of people who they think might be suitable for the role. The role will be the perfect …

Why being busy is killing your career progress With the rate of change, the volume of work and our always on and available work culture, being busy has reached epidemic proportions. But the question that must be asked is “Are you being effective and is being busy impacting your career progress?” …

With the world of work changing at an ever-increasing rate, learning how to future proof your career has never been more important. Many roles are becoming extinct, being replaced by technology while brand new roles are popping up every day. Economists have predicted that over the next two decades, the jobs …

Change in the corporate world is the one constant we can rely on. No job is 100% secure. No role will remain exactly the same one year to the next. Cultures change. Corporate structures and strategies change. Boards Change. Executive leadership teams change. And all of this change will directly or …

What is your professional reputation? Are you known for your exceptional leadership skills or are you known as someone who can be relied on to get the job done? Sadly too many women are being overlooked and missing out on the best opportunities because they get caught up “doing” the work. …

Ever wonder to yourself “why am I being overlooked?” You are working hard. No… you are working really hard. You know you are good at want you do and you are getting great results. Your team members are engaged, love you and you know you are doing a great job building …

Have you been asking yourself; Should I stay or should I go? It’s a question most of us ask more than once in our professional career. And it’s never a particularly easy question to answer. You’ve hit a rough patch and you’re wondering is it bad enough to start looking for …

With the rate of change occurring in the world of work it’s very possible that at some stage in your career you have or will experience the uncertainty that comes with a business restructure or a round of redundancies. It’s not fun to be part of and it can leave you …

If you could find the magic pill to create a powerful, productive and amazing year ahead… would you take it? But before we go there… I wonder how this year turned out for you? If we were to focus on your career just for a moment, are you satisfied with what …

Have you ever wondered how much easier work would be if you could supercharge your productivity and creativity? But your to do list is getting longer and your time is getting shorter. And getting it all done seems harder than ever. You get into the office early and you leave late. You’re working hard but to what outcome …

The days are getting warmer and the evenings longer which means we are on the downhill stretch to Christmas, the silly season and the end of the year. But this does not mean that it’s time to put your career aspirations on hold, swan off with a cocktail in hand or …

You know it’s time to move jobs but here you are in a job that’s well past its use by date. Understanding exactly when it’s time to move on can sometimes be difficult to determine but most of us know deep down when the time has come. We may try to …

How do women define success? What does career success mean to you? It of course means something a little different to all of us depending on our values, experiences and stage of life. But are you clear on what it means to you right now? Given we dedicate so much of …

Unfortunately most of us have found ourselves in a job at some point that is unfulfilling and leaves us feeling miserable. At it’s worst, people will say that they flat out hate their job. Some say that they are bored, or have stopped being challenged. Some are frustrated or disillusioned by …

How often do you find yourself doing what you think you should be doing rather than listening to your intuition… and later wishing you had followed your gut instinct? Women are intuitive beings. We have an inner compass, that when given the chance, can really guide us in the decisions we …

Are you brave in your career choices or are you constrained by your self imposed limits? Do you sit within your comfort zone, doing work that you could do with your eyes closed? Or are you consistently taking on new and interesting projects that stretch and challenge you? There are times …

If you are thinking that this is going to be your breakthrough year where you finally get that promotion you have been craving, it is time to start positioning yourself for what you want. Staying silent, flying under the radar and purely working hard and doing a good job simply will …

With only a few weeks to go before Christmas and the summer break, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your career and where it is heading next year. Yes… I know it’s a busy time and career planning may not be right at the top of your “to …

Having the right people in our network can help us to up level our income, open up career opportunities and elevate our personal impact and influence. Some people seem to do this with ease but many of women I speak to either do it poorly or not at all …

Massive change is ahead (or maybe it is already here.) Change in our workplaces, change in our society, change in how we live our life, change in how business operates, change in the type of jobs that we will be doing. You name it … we are living within a time …

Why is it that you do what you do? Of all the jobs and all the companies; why this one? If you were to think back to when you said YES to the role that you are now in, what was it that excited you? Can you remember? Interestingly, research has …

Has your career come to a grounding holt, where you are no longer being recognised, rewarded and promoted? Perhaps you are feeling bored, lacking challenge and missing the opportunity for growth. Are you wondering why it is that your career progression has plateaued over the last few years, leaving you less …

So often when we think about getting ahead in our career we think about what we need to do more of or be better at or what new action we must take, but very often the place to start has more to do with what we must let go of. The …

When you hear the word networking do you immediately start planning the stunning outfit you’ll wear so you look your best to meet and mingle with really gorgeous super cool people? …

Have you ever wanted to create change in your career but felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead? The idea of stepping up to the next big thing, changing career direction or creating some new results, can at times seem totally daunting and a task too large to begin. …

I am wondering, are you battling the back to work blues? Are you like so many of us who have returned to work this week after some precious time out, reconnecting with your friends and family and immersing yourself in all those activities that truly bring you joy? As you step …

Lack of education, lack of opportunity, lack of desire; these are not what hold us back from achieving success, reaching our potential or creating significant impact in our work. The number 1 thing that holds us back is our silent struggle with confidence, self worth and faith in ourselves. I had …

Many of the women I work with are in their early 40’s and are questioning their career. They have achieved a great deal of success but are now agonising over how come they don’t feel more delighted and excited given that they have achieved all they planned as they danced into …

Do you love your work? Does it fulfil your needs for professional growth and personal connection? Do you wake up each morning and leap out of bed with a feeling of excited expectation when you think about your schedule for the day? Does it bring meaning to your life and a …

You have worked out what you want for your career. You are ambitious, driven and courageous. You have your future mapped out and high expectations around what you and your team can achieve. You have tasted success and you have “lucked” into some really great opportunities by being in the right …

Your professional career sometimes seems like the holy grail that ebbs and flows with the cycle of our life and the whims of corporate decision makers. At times we have it all together where our career is skipping along filled with accolades, satisfying challenges and exciting opportunities. Then there are those …

“Woman will lead the Thriving Revolution.” This was Arianna Huffington’s opening statement at the yesterday’s Melbourne Business Chicks event. What an amazing, warm, genuine woman on a mission to lead the way to change how we live and more specifically how we view success. Success is currently viewed through a masculine …

You’re a smart, intelligent woman. You are extremely loyal and reliable and you are good at your job. You work hard and you have all the qualifications and experience needed to get promoted, so why is it that you keep getting passed over? It used to be the guys with all …

Most of us recognise that having a strong professional network is an important element of achieving our career goals and aspirations. But how many of us actually make time to develop, nurture and grow our connections. It is all too easy to get busy being busy in a rush to get everything on the “to do” list done, while neglecting the benefits that come from truly connecting and sharing with other professionals. …

Have you ever found yourself waiting for career success? Waiting to feel smart enough, good enough, old enough, or for someone to notice how great you are at your job? Every day I speak to leaders who are waiting. It shouldn’t surprise me … because I remember a time when I …

Have you been wondering whether your career has stalled? Our career, like our lives, go through natural cycles and stages. At times we fly along with free flowing momentum where results, recognition and promotions come easily. Then there are times when our career seems to hit a plateau and we find …

Have you ever thought … if I work hard, I will get noticed and soon I will be promoted and get the pay rise I deserve? Unfortunately career and leadership success and getting the recognition you deserve doesn’t only come through hard work. Yes it is part of the equation but there is more to it than that …

Is it possible that there is an epidemic out there in workplaces around the country, of people feeling bored, stuck and unfulfilled by the work they do? A lack of meaning seems to be causing increasing numbers of people to be disengaged and unproductive … not just for a couple of days …

Why is it that we can sometimes work really hard putting in long hours, contributing enormous value to the team or achieved extraordinary results and still we feel invisible at work? It doesn’t matter how great you are at your job if no one is noticing you. It is impossible to …

We ask ourselves dozens of questions each day: what will I have for lunch, have I got time for exercise, what will I wear to the meeting? These questions are all important. They shape who we are and influence the type of life we lead day by day. But we often …