If you recognize and change the behaviors that say "girl" not "woman," the results will pay off in career opportunities you never thought possible-and in an image that identifies you as someone with the power and know-how to occupy the corner office!
TOP 10 Mistakes
MISTAKE # 3 WORKING TOO HARD
Women don't get ahead because they work hard. Likeability, strategic thinking, networking, and being a team player are but a few of the other factors that go into crafting a successful career.
MISTAKE # 9 AVOIDING OFFICE POLITICS
Trying to avoid office politics is like trying to avoid the weather. If you're not involved in office politics, you're not playing the game and, if you're not playing the game, you can't possibly win.
MISTAKE # 16 NEEDING TO BE LIKED
It's critical for women to understand the difference between being liked and being respected. A girl's need to be liked will preclude her from taking the kinds of risks taken by women who are respected.
MISTAKE # 17 NOT NEEDING TO BE LIKED
Fear of being perceived as a pushover causes some women to adopt the attitude, "I'm not here to win a popularity contest." Well, I'm here to tell you, yes you are.
MISTAKE # 26 DECORATING YOUR OFFICE LIKE YOUR LIVING ROOM
Your office or workspace can be a reflection of who you are and what's important to you, but that doesn't mean it should look like your living room. By emphasizing your femininity, you can diminish your credibility.
MISTAKE # 33 OBEDIENTLY FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Women are often so anxious to get the job done quickly that they pay attention to the details and not the big picture. Women who get ahead know how to balance the tactical with the strategic. Don't just do your job, add value by not obediently following instructions, but thinking and planning-which is what you want to be known for.
MISTAKE # 37 SKIPPING MEETINGS
Meetings are to see and be seen, meet and greet, or play show and tell. It's part of branding and marketing yourself.
MISTAKE # 59 ASKING PERMISSION
Men don't ask for permission, they ask for forgiveness. Every time a woman asks permission to do or say something, she diminishes her stature and relegates herself to the position of a child.
MISTAKE # 77 TILTING YOUR HEAD
When trying to convey a direct message, tilting your head can be interpreted as uncertain or lacking commitment to what you're saying-even when you're dead sure of what you're saying. It's one way women have learned to communicate difficult messages in a socially acceptable, but less assertive, way.
MISTAKE # 98 BEING THE LAST TO SPEAK
The inclination to hold back when men are present is a huge mistake. The longer you wait to speak, the more likely it is that someone else will say what you're thinking-and get credit for it.
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If you work nonstop without a break...worry about offending others and back down too easily...explain too much when asked for information...or "poll" your friends and colleagues before making a decision, chances are you have been bypassed for promotions and ignored when you expressed your ideas. Although you may not be aware of it, girlish behaviors such as these are sabotaging your career!