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Women are often shy about taking credit for work, at the cost of career growth! Here are tips on taking credit at work, with confidence and grace.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/miguelvirkkunen/14621623115
By Rania Anderson
When we posted this photo-quote on Facebook and Twitter, we immediately heard back from women all over the world.
Some overwhelmingly endorsed the sentiment, “behind every successful woman is herself.” Others didn’t agree, citing the support we get from family, friends and colleagues.
Naturally, we all recognize that there is a great deal that goes into anyone’s success. But for us, this quote was an acknowledgement of two things:
But, there is a persistent behaviour that hinders women’s success: the habit of not accepting credit for their own accomplishments.
Much research has been conducted on this topic. You can read one recent study here.
Instead of more data, I want to give you some words and tips to use in accepting credit for your results and accomplishments or for times when you need to sell yourself during an interview or in a conversation with a client.
Instead of saying:
Say:
Regarding an accomplishment (with a client or on a project)
My mother always told me that when someone pays you a compliment it is exactly the same as if they had given you a gift. The appropriate response when someone gives you a gift is “Thank you.” So why, when most of us have been taught to be kind and gracious, can we not accept compliments or positive feedback on results we produce?
Acknowledging your role in creating results will help your career or business
I urge you to try it! At a minimum it will make those who compliment or ask about your accomplishments feel appreciated.
There is, of course, a time when it’s appropriate to acknowledge your team, and other times when it’s appropriate to take credit. But, too often, women don’t take credit and too quickly attribute success to others. In contrast, one of the most frequent pieces of feedback that I give male executives I coach is to use the word “we” more frequently than “I” in communicating about results at work. Men are typically very quick to take credit for and make their accomplishments known.
So, take credit for your accomplishments. I know you have a lot to be proud of!
This post was first published here.
Rania Anderson is an angel investor, entrepreneur, former corporate leader, and a leading authority on business women. She’s also the Founder and President of The Way Women Work.
Pic credit: Miguelvirkunnen (Used under a CC license)
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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