Women@Work Series: Feeling Invisible at Work?

By Yawa Hansen-Quao 

Do you feel invisible in your workplace? Perhaps you work very hard, are very reliable and responsible. Your boss and co-workers count on you to make things happen but somehow you don't feel as though you are truly valued. Perhaps you feel by now you ought to be in a position of higher authority than you find yourself. How do you draw some positive attention to your work and present yourself as a woman worthy of promotion and recognition in your workplace? The following is a true story (although the names are changed to protect the innocent!).

Ayorkor is a very ambitious career woman who works for a well-known accounting firm in Accra. When she joined the company she estimated that in five years, she would rise to the rank of senior manager. However, she has been in her company for eight years and has only just broken into the ranks of middle management. It seems like the harder and more steadfastly she works, the more she seems to be ignored.

She also has felt betrayed by others who have presented her ideas as their own. Most recently, while having lunch with some of her colleague managers, she shared her ideas on how she believes the company can improve their billing systems. Days later during a management meeting, her colleague raised his hand and asked to share an insight on how the company can improve its billing processes - you guessed it - the exact ideas that Ayorkor shared just days prior. Months later, her colleague was rewarded with a promotion to senior management - the exact promotion that Ayorkor had had her eyes on for the past three years. Ayorkor now feels so bitter and unappreciated she is considering quitting her job.

Ask almost every employer and they will confirm to you that as employees, women are generally productive and efficient. We learn to multitask and manage the to-do list and take great satisfaction from crossing completed tasks off the list. On the other hand, companies place a higher premium on critical and strategic thinking, which impact the bottom line. This is evidence that the attributes that are most valued and respected in the workplace may not be what women are most naturally inclined to. This means we have to work extra hard to develop the skill set that best positions us for success and promotion. If you find yourself feeling invisible and ignored, I recommend the following:

Double-check your appearance

It is easy to overlook the ways we may be shortchanging ourselves professionally through the way we dress and comport ourselves. A major question to ask yourself is: what message is your appearance sending at work? Research reveals 55 per cent of how you are perceived is based on the way you look; 38 per cent is based on how you talk, and 7 per cent is based on what you say. So like it or not, people tend to judge a book by its cover. Your personal grooming and comportment are therefore critical marketing tools that could position you for success. Obey the old adage: dress for the job you want, not the job you have!

Think and act strategically

Women are often predisposed to behaviours that work against our success in the world of work. For example, many of us are inherently caretakers. This is what makes us excellent when it comes to empathising, connecting and building relationships. However, the tendency to care for others can impede productivity and teach others to become overly dependent. Constantly look for ways your work can impact the bottom line. If, for instance, you have ideas for improving revenue-flow or work processes, it's always good to send those ideas directly to a decision-maker. If you are serious about a promotion within a specific time frame, do your homework and begin to add on the skillset or qualifications that will make you the best candidate for that position.

Know that if you don't speak up, somebody else will Generally, people judge what you know based on what you find words for. Being unable to articulate what you know is therefore synonymous with not knowing. The smartest employers know that those who speak up are valuable assets especially if they convey insights that are critical to the success of the organization. Confronting your fear of speaking up during staff meetings, or taking the lead on a project can really boost your prospects for promotion. Unless you learn how to speak your mind in an assertive manner, you shouldn't expect to rise into leadership.

From henceforth, I encourage you to consider whatever challenge you face at work as an opportunity to self-examine and reposition yourself for success. Until next week, win at work!

More @ Midel Media

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Yawa_Hansen-Quao/2235161