The Quickest Way To Shut Down Your Career
And that, dear reader, is to take any notice of people who tell you that you are too much…
Too intimidating
Too powerful
Too many opinions
Too bossy
Too ambitious
Too ‘much’
Too many ideas
Too involved
Too proactive
Too energetic
Too questioning
Too much to say
The list could go on – and interestingly these are qualities we often admire in men, and are presented as something positive.
I’ve been called several of these things over the course of my career – and many of you reading this will identify with them too. They sting. And the chances are they come from uninvited opinions about you.
The fastest way to shut down a woman is to tell her she is too much. Of anything.
The result? We often unquestioningly accept those opinions of other people and take them to heart. Unconsciously, we absorb what someone else has said and make subtle changes in how we show up.
Maybe we stop voicing our opinions.
Maybe we tone down our ambitions and don’t apply for that next promoted post.
Maybe we stop asking those questions.
Maybe we shut up and step back.
Maybe we stop challenging.
Maybe we defer to someone else.
Maybe we become hesitant…
The effect of telling a woman that she is too much, in any way, is a way of silencing her. Of denying her the career she wants and robbing her of her voice, her drive and her place in the world.
The world needs more women with energy. The world needs more women with opinions and the confidence to express them, to say what they think and not worry what others think of those opinions.
The world needs more women to show up with more ideas, with the spark and the determination to get themselves heard.
The world needs more women to question the way things are done and offer alternatives.
Let’s encourage a woman’s voice in the workplace, not shut her down.
You are not too much, you are powerful, strong, confident, eloquent, assertive, focused, energetic, determined, incisive, challenging, sharp, smart, thoughtful, strategic….
Remember, other people’s opinions of us, don’t have to become ours if we don’t want them to. Unsolicited feedback and unasked for opinions are often unwarranted and unfounded, and say more about the other person that us.
If other people’s opinions are getting in the way of your career success and you’re not putting yourself forward for opportunities, then 5 Steps To Develop Your Leadership Presence will help you to manage self-doubt and become promotion-ready – you can download a copy here.
Originally posted on susanritchie.co.uk
Susan Ritchie
Susan Ritchie is a leadership coach who specialises in working with new and aspiring female leaders, helping them develop their leadership presence, so they can lead with confidence, create the right impact and excel in their role. She’s the author of Strategies for Being Brilliant: 21 Ways to be Happy, Confident and Successful.
She can be found at www.susanritchie.co.uk where you can download 5 Steps To Developing Your Leadership Presence – and why not come and say hello on twitter @susanjritchie.
And that, dear reader, is to take any notice of people who tell you that you are too much…
Too intimidating
Too powerful
Too many opinions
Too bossy
Too ambitious
Too ‘much’
Too many ideas
Too involved
Too proactive
Too energetic
Too questioning
Too much to say
The list could go on – and interestingly these are qualities we often admire in men, and are presented as something positive.
I’ve been called several of these things over the course of my career – and many of you reading this will identify with them too. They sting. And the chances are they come from uninvited opinions about you.
The fastest way to shut down a woman is to tell her she is too much. Of anything.
The result? We often unquestioningly accept those opinions of other people and take them to heart. Unconsciously, we absorb what someone else has said and make subtle changes in how we show up.
Maybe we stop voicing our opinions.
Maybe we tone down our ambitions and don’t apply for that next promoted post.
Maybe we stop asking those questions.
Maybe we shut up and step back.
Maybe we stop challenging.
Maybe we defer to someone else.
Maybe we become hesitant…
The effect of telling a woman that she is too much, in any way, is a way of silencing her. Of denying her the career she wants and robbing her of her voice, her drive and her place in the world.
The world needs more women with energy. The world needs more women with opinions and the confidence to express them, to say what they think and not worry what others think of those opinions.
The world needs more women to show up with more ideas, with the spark and the determination to get themselves heard.
The world needs more women to question the way things are done and offer alternatives.
Let’s encourage a woman’s voice in the workplace, not shut her down.
You are not too much, you are powerful, strong, confident, eloquent, assertive, focused, energetic, determined, incisive, challenging, sharp, smart, thoughtful, strategic….
Remember, other people’s opinions of us, don’t have to become ours if we don’t want them to. Unsolicited feedback and unasked for opinions are often unwarranted and unfounded, and say more about the other person that us.
If other people’s opinions are getting in the way of your career success and you’re not putting yourself forward for opportunities, then 5 Steps To Develop Your Leadership Presence will help you to manage self-doubt and become promotion-ready – you can download a copy here.
Originally posted on susanritchie.co.uk
Susan Ritchie
Susan Ritchie is a leadership coach who specialises in working with new and aspiring female leaders, helping them develop their leadership presence, so they can lead with confidence, create the right impact and excel in their role. She’s the author of Strategies for Being Brilliant: 21 Ways to be Happy, Confident and Successful.
She can be found at www.susanritchie.co.uk where you can download 5 Steps To Developing Your Leadership Presence – and why not come and say hello on twitter @susanjritchie.
