THE TOP THREE REASONS WHY WOMEN DON’T GET PROMOTED

And the top strategies to change that and get ahead.

[Part One]

By Beate Chelette

As a career coach and longtime entrepreneur I have been able to watch how men and women work and advance (or not) in their careers. Here are some of the top reasons why women don’t get promoted at a higher rate and Part Two of this article offers strategies to change that:

Getting sidetracked

* Women are genetically wired to create community. Instead of being clear that in corporate settings and business overall it is about your ability to focus and produce numbers, women get sidetracked in wanting to build community. The work environment today is built on male dominated traits. You will be judged and promoted by your ability to support these established rules. Until this changes (and The Women’s Code will do just that), if you want to advance you have to know when it’s time to produce and when it’s time to build your team.

The other woman—an enemy, not an ally

* Women still look at other women as enemies instead of allies. Turn on the TV or pick up a magazine and recognize how much appeal the catfight still has. It’s how we have been raised and we fall into this all too easily. Instead observe how men build their support and create allies at work. The minute they start working their first day they follow a simple concept: I do this for you – you will do this for me. It comes naturally to them and goes back all the way to the hunting days. They had to work together and each had a role. This is the men’s code. In comparison women are more concerned that the ‘other woman’ is out for her job. Here, too, the thinking that SHE wants what I have is anchored in our history. Women had to protect what they had. This thinking continues today and makes women fearful and protective of their jobs. Unfortunately, that creates a solitary and toxic work environment that is very bad for business. With a man you know what you get. Women? Not so much because the new rules have not been established. But I’m working to change that. http://goo.gl/aqD6q

Gossip Has To Go

* Women engage in office gossip and love to talk. As long as you do that you will continue to mix the issues of work and personal likes and dislikes. Who cares if you like her or him or not? You are there to work and need to treat it like that. Work relationships should be based on respect and collaboration, not on friendship and personal likes. This type of error in your judgment can be fatal to your career. Women talk. And what you thought you told HER in confidence will be used against you at the next opportunity for someone else’s advancement. Like it or not, women can be ruthless that way.

Part Two: Strategies For Getting Ahead

But we can also be very smart in how we go about getting promoted and that’s what I’ll discuss next. So stayed tuned, as Part Two will give you strategies to help get you to the next level.