Women’s Web is recognizing role models with WICA, and number of women nominating for the Women In Corporate Awards is increasing. Apply now, last date – 18th July
What is holding you back from doing your job better? Can the concept of a glass ceiling also exist in our own minds?
My journey as a performance consultant requires me to deal with people in the corporate world. In order for me to deliver effective training solutions, learning and interventions, I have to understand the client’s needs and expectations.
One of the recurring themes I work on is performance improvement. From the several hundreds of conversations I have had with colleagues and clients in the past, my interactions indicate ninety percent of people eventually reveal that there is always something holding them back from doing their job better, from getting a big raise or bagging their next promotion. And these people are always looking for a ‘quick fix’ to this problem.
This throws up a couple of questions in my mind. Does the glass ceiling apply only to our professional lives—or its presence felt in other aspects of our lives as well? Is it unintentionally self-created or is it something beyond our control? And more importantly, are we aware that there exists a ‘glass ceiling’ in our mind that stands in our way of further progress?
I pulled out a short list of words that can be attributed to the concept of the ‘glass ceiling’:
Barrier, unacknowledged, invisible, unbreakable. The common thread that links all these attributes together is “limitations”. And so, should we go ahead and smash the ‘glass ceiling’?
Smashing glass can be dangerous. Removal needs to be done one pane at a time. We need to start with small, comfortable steps to identify our individual limitations. Many of these limitations are stemmed from our own lack of self-belief. Other limitations are harboured by dysfunctional thoughts we have chosen to believe about ourselves.
Once we recognize these limitations and begin to take small steps to remove them—we will become more creative and innovative.
Many of us need to go the way of awaken–acknowledge–action.
Image via Pexels
First published at author’s blog
How Generations Of Women In My Family Had Already Broken The Glass Ceiling For Me
Many Try To Break The Will Of Moms Returning To Work, But NO – We Are Not Giving Up
“Remember To Never Give Up” – My Mother’s Advice Made Me Hold On To My Job
To Women Who Break The Glass Ceiling: Pave The Way For Others After You
Get our weekly mailer and never miss out on the best reads by and about women!