From negotiating a successful raise to asking for more responsibilities, navigating your career path as a female employee is challenging at best and frustrating at worst, and there will be times that you will find yourself at wits’ end. Fret not! Singapore more successful women in their respective industries reveal the strategies they use in their quest to reach – and stay – at the top of their fields. Here’s what they told us about how to shine and succeed in the workplace:
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(Main Photo Credit: TPG)
Some women thrive on being busy and are at the top of their game, while others feel overwhelmed as soon as they have more than one project to juggle. There are only a finite amount of hours in a workday and it can sometimes feel impossible to get all your tasks done within the appropriate time frame but it is achievable.
Simply put all your time to good use and make sure that the work you are churning out is up to scratch. “In the span of my career, I’ve met people with different working styles and personalities and I’ve learnt to understand and appreciate diversity. I now value the quality of the output more than how it is delivered,” says Carolyn Khiu, Vice President of Public Affairs & Branding at SATS Ltd, one of Asia’s largest providers of food solutions and gateway services.
“Challenges are often perceived. The problem and circumstances confronting it will always be there until someone comes along to solve it,” she says before concluding with some sage advice: “Manage your deadlines, try to get things right the first time and don’t sweat the small stuff.”
When contemplating a life plan, many women break down their options to two halves: Career or baby. The demands of raising children and building a top-notch working empire often collide headfirst but it does not always have to be that way. Finding a balance that works for your family is key to achieving success both at the workplace and at home.
There is no cookie cutter road to be successful in both areas, but it is possible. “I have two boys aged five and seven. Besides needing the stamina to keep up with my active boys, I try to manage my time productively,” says Sharon See, Team Leader and Director of a Private Banking Unit at a leading international bank. “Drawing up a proper schedule for my boys during my workday, and prioritising my meetings and workload also help a great deal.”
She adds that there will always be people who think that mothers and women cannot be truly successful at the workplace but she begs to differ. “I’d like to believe than being a mother, wife and daughter makes me someone that is even better at what I do,” she says.
There are times when you are going to feel like your boss is breathing down your neck or lashing out at you but trust us when we say that bosses are not doing this on purpose. He or she is tasked with making certain decisions and regardless of whether you agree or disagree with their approach or management style, they probably have more context than you do about those choices.
When in doubt, always try to communicate first before doing anything brash but also keep in mind that not all bosses respond well to constructive criticism. “I believe that every challenge brings you one step closer to success – whether it is surviving in a competitive landscape or managing a difficult boss,” says Cheryl Goh, Group Vice President of Marketing at GrabTaxi.
“If you have tried your best and done your due-diligence, have the courage and wisdom to seek guidance.” A believer in the power of communication, Cheryl says it takes someone who cares to give feedback, so the person receiving it should take it in that light, accept the feedback and reflect on what can be done better.
If you feel like you have done everything right and yet your salary still has not been bumped up and you find yourself slogging away in a mid-level position, it’s time to take matters into your own hands and simply ask. According to the Harvard Business Review, more than one in five women said the top reason they did not ask for a promotion was because they didn’t want to put themselves out there if they were likely to get rejected.
“Women often feel they need to be more than 100 per cent qualified before they go for a job or position they want versus men who take their chances even when they feel they only meet 80 per cent of the requirements,” says Lynn Hong, Director of Human Resources at McDonald’s Singapore, “but it’s time for a mindset change: go for it! If you don’t take a risk, you’ll never know.”
Lynn recalls a time in her past when she applied for a role as the head of a department despite only being ranked as a senior executive. “Even though a part of me felt that I was too junior, I landed the role and it became one of the most fulfilling jobs in my career,” she says.
Women executives trail men in connections that can help their careers but there are new programs try to counter that. CRIB, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to empower women to become successful entrepreneurs through networking, co-founder matching and equipping/business incubation, will host an inaugural CRIB Summit on 11-12 March 2017 at Capella Hotel, Singapore.
Dr Elaine Kim, the co-founder and CEO of CRIB says, “We need to change the work landscape and start-up ecosystem to help women further achieve the incredible impact they have the potential to make on our economy and society. The CRIB summit brings together the people who will make this change.”
The keynote speakers at the summit include the current Presidential candidate for South Korea, Mr Chung Un-Chan, Former Prime Minister of South Korea and Chairman of the Shared Growth Institute, who will address the importance of diversity in society and the economy. Another international speaker is H.R.H. Princess Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite, Founder of UN-hosted World Women’s Health and Development Forum and President of Women in Science International League.
(A version of this article first appeared in the January 2017 print issue of The Singapore Women’s Weekly.)