Ever wondered what it is that makes some women so successful, both in the workplace and in their personal lives? What traits do they have, and what are the routines that help them grow and develop as a person?
This article is a collection of habits that successful women have developed to help guide them through their careers. These tips aren’t just for women, though; these habits can be applied to anybody of any gender identity or background.
Knowing what your time is worth
The first step to knowing what your time is worth is to see that you have a choice. You can choose to be undervalued, or you can choose to be compensated fairly for the work that you do. Once you understand this, it’s time to start practicing negotiating for yourself and others.
Setting priorities
When it comes to the work you do each day, it’s important to set priorities. But just because something is a priority doesn’t mean it should be a goal.
A priority is something that you must do. A goal is something that could happen if everything aligns perfectly and every problem gets solved. You can set goals for yourself, but they don’t always need to be written down or spoken aloud—they may not even have deadlines attached to them.
Avoiding cynicism
Cynicism is a particularly hurtful and destructive habit. It can seriously impact self-esteem and even make you doubt your own abilities. This is why it’s important to be upbeat and keep a positive perspective on things.
Having the courage to speak up
There’s no denying that if you want to be successful, you need to speak up. If a coworker offers to help with your project, don’t just accept it and move along—thank them for the offer and then tell them how they can best help you.
If your boss asks for feedback on a proposal for a new product line, don’t just say, “It looks great!” even though it does; tell them what needs work so they can make improvements before sending it out into the world.
If someone is talking over their turn in a group meeting or making an assumption without asking permission first, don’t let them get away with it. Instead, take control of the conversation by asking questions until everyone understands what happened and why they need to change course.
Thriving in chaos
Having the ability to thrive in chaos is a skill that successful and effective women have mastered. As a result, they are able to keep their composure, even when things are falling apart around them.
Women who can thrive in chaos are the ones who stay calm and collected when things get rough at work or in their personal lives. They’re not easily derailed by stress or pressure; they have the ability to turn it off when they need to so they can return with a clear head and renewed energy later on. These women also know how to take adversity as an opportunity for growth rather than as an obstacle blocking their path forward, which is why they tend to be more resilient than other people around them.
As you become more successful and effective yourself, one way that you’ll demonstrate this strength is by learning how to cope with change. Even if you’ve got everything planned out perfectly for your career or life goals, there will inevitably be times when things don’t go according to plan – and that’s okay!
Knowing when to push and when to pause
Pushing hard and then pausing to recharge is a surefire way to get more traction for your team. But it’s important to know when the time is right for each. For example, you shouldn’t push something until you’ve given it all the consideration possible, but sometimes that means spending two weeks (or longer) researching rather than just jumping in headfirst. On the flip side, don’t always assume that taking a break means slowing down your progress. Sometimes moving forward quickly can take as much energy as moving slowly.
Getting over imposter syndrome
If you’ve been feeling like a fraud lately, rest assured that you are not alone. Impostor syndrome is a common phenomenon in which people believe they are not as competent as others perceive them to be. It’s thought to affect more than half of high-achieving women.
One way to start overcoming this negative self-talk is by first recognizing the signs of imposter syndrome:
- You worry about being found out as a “fraud” – Someone who feels like an impostor will often worry about coming clean with their coworkers or boss and admitting that they don’t deserve their position at work. They may feel like they were lucky or got away with something in order to stay employed there; this anxiety can cause them to avoid taking on new responsibilities for fear their lack of knowledge will be revealed if they try something new.
- You discount your own successes – People who suffer from imposter syndrome often downplay or dismiss past achievements when talking about themselves or when giving a presentation at work.
