Patricia Russell-McCloud J.D.

Women are working more than ever before. Notably, in recent years, the number of women and men in the labor force has about equalized. Yet, shockingly, women still earn only 80 cents per dollar that men earn in comparable positions.

Having women in the workplace is a key component of organizational performance. Therefore, women themselves, must be the change that they want to see.  For example, for decades, at every level of the academia, women have been rising.  In 2010, for the first time, more women than men in the United States received doctoral degrees, the culmination of decades of change in the status of women at colleges nationwide.

Today, there is a new and different workforce emerging.  It is more than a mere effort for diversity and inclusion, or a race to ensure “good numbers” for the representation of women in a particular organization. Increasingly, and necessarily, women can be themselves with their individual and /or collective attitudes, perspectives and insights, unapologetically.

Inquiring minds want to know, how to one can touch their inner soul, without simultaneously losing their mind?  In actuality, you have but one life to live so wisely, one would face their fears and push open the doors to their true self.  What is the worse thing that can happen by finding and following your true self?

Yes, you may need to forgo security as you change a career or a relationship path and  family and friends may not like that you are following your true desires or even conclude that you are self-absorbed.  But, remember this, if you lose a few people on the road to your authentic self, they were meant to disappear from your life, anyway.  Again, dare to face your fears, and seek and find your true self–inside, out.

The objective is to be courageous and to step beyond your comfort zone for awhile, shift the paradigm, and go beyond the status quo.  Simply put, try something new, by breaking the routine.  Although it may be scary at first, you will have the opportunity to learn and grow.  You will have the choice and challenge to identify and support who you really are in temperament, instincts, talents, passion, purpose and skills.  In taking this journey, you will meet and become better acquainted with–the real you.  Engage.

Women are, thought leaders, decision makers, problem solvers and strategic futurists, as they plot and plan their careers, while engaging in the on-going effort to juggle it all. There are lessons to be learned.

Women have a plate that has turned into a platter in their effort to balance home, career, community and more.  Early on, there is a need to decide what is of pinnacle importance, why and when.  Then, a strategy can unfold for their personal and professional timetable.

With each passing decade, the wise one is forced to engage in an honest  and reflective assessment about their life choices.  Along the way, there are people in your life who know every victory and every scar, but one must you have a mind-set that allows for peace of mind about both their decision and their timetable.

More and more women are delaying having children—especially women with college educations.  Obviously, many women feel the biological clock ticking. Some of the reasons women are putting off motherhood including, but not limited to, wanting to achieve their own personal and financial goals first; having greater self-confidence and being better able to transfer career skills to raising kids and managing a household; and, being married to an “equal companion,” who has a similar education level and job experience, so he or she can contribute equally to the household.  All of those reasons make good sense.

Platitudes about the importance of work–life balance don’t fully capture the complexity of the situations. The pursuit of a meaningful, multifaceted life involves endless choices about both short-term tactical issues and long-term strategic presents the challenge of walking on a balance beam while trying to juggle a carton of eggs.

With career and life progress, more responsibilities and opportunities, something has to go.  As a human being there are some things that you cannot do in an energetic, effective and excellent manner.

In all likelihood, you will not be a productive employee, inspiring boss and mentor, supportive colleague, active community member, and committed spouse, friend, parent, child or sibling.  Therefore, it is important to focus on being a long-term fulfillment rather than short-term success.  The issue is to what degree you want to experience a specific component of your life.  Life is full of trade -offs.  Given the required amount of time, energy, and resources one must decide, what is important to them, and why.  One size, does not fit all.

Moving from being in the pipeline to being a partner or from being the recruit to the C-suite, may not be an easy thing.  But it can be done.

In truth, there is still a glass ceiling, because there is still the proverbial old boy network.  This fact is as simple, as it is complicated.  The issues revolve around money and power and who plays golf and who does not, and who is willing to play golf with you.  Business is still very much done that way.

Girls are taught to be cooperative more than boys.  From the beginning, girls are not stepping out of line, demonstrating a need to be heard, understood and accepted.  Girls are still not encouraged to speak up, to use their voice, to use their instinct, to not be afraid, or to have a tool kit to combat bullying.

The saga continues, because in the workplace,  there’s a lot of corporate game-playing that goes on, including, but not limited to, constant workplace jabs, “You’re really creative. Do you understand math?” “You’re more of a touchy-feely person.” “What do you know about business?”  “I don’t know that you can pull this off.”

Strategies for workplace, not only survival, but success are shared.  Women can have power and show their prowess and control.  They have to be competent, capable, determined, and respectful, but, women can shape their destiny.  In the midst of strong males. If you’re treated like a secretary, you can stop in the middle of everything and make people think, “We’re going to end the conversation now until you listen to me. If you can’t listen to different opinions, we shouldn’t be having this meeting.”

Even if you already know that you are an emotional person, cancel the tears in the workplace.  If not, you manage to promote and solidify the

stereotype that women are weak and not as tough as their male counterparts or that they can’t, won’t, or shouldn’t… because they always respond, emotionally.

Women need to be unafraid to introduce people.  Compliment others when it is deserved.  Refuse to devalue the importance that women can play in the success of other people.  Women need to be intellectually credible in having and knowing when to spend political capital, and rather than being neutral on every issue, and, simply going with the flow, women need to have something that she believes in and will stand for, often, against the odds.  At the end of the day, there are principles that matter.  Women need to learn the benefit of letting the dust settle, earlier, rather, than latter.  When you are in debate over an issue, express your opinion and keep it moving. Significantly, women need to champion, mentor and acknowledge the value add of other women in the workplace.  If not, we hurt ourselves.

As women claim their voice, demonstrating a willingness to speak up and out, and doing it all over again if ignored on the first go round, and prioritize themselves, and make a decision to not become subordinate to others, they can be assured that research reveals that they have better instincts, better intuition, and better team dynamics.  Maximize.