If your org doesn't support female talent?
Do you work for a company that doesn’t recognize female talent?
If this is you, you’re not alone. That’s good to know. But it doesn’t help when you’re moving toward management and unclear on your own career goals. Or if you need help with your communication and influencing skills, and know you could do a better job at networking strategically.
It’s not what you want to hear when you suspect this lack of resourcing is causing you to tread water during your peak earning years, keep your ideas from connecting with senior leadership, and actually making an impact on your org.
Priorities are set at the senior leadership level. CEOs, HR, heads of orgs are typically in charge of resources. But if a leadership or mentorship program doesn’t exist yet, it can be a heavy lift to start one.
I know. I know. There is something inherently frustrating about putting the burden of creating these programs on the person who’s already under-resourced. I 100% hear this. And yet, sometimes it’s where we are.
Good news is, you’re a leader.
You have to grow and learn. To move forward.
And, like all good leaders, you know you’ll go farther with others than you would doing it on your own.
If you’re interested in starting these programs at your org here’s a few places to begin:
- Find out who’s in charge - usually HR or ERGs have development budgets but the head of your org often does too.
- Seed the idea - many companies are more focused than ever in developing female talent. Connect with those who understand this is worth solving.
- Offer a solution - as with anything, if you bring up a problem, having a product or vendor in hand is often an easier sell than just presenting the issue.
If you have an interest in starting a program like this at your org -- write me (holler@acelectric.co). I’m happy to help strategize. And if you want a cheat sheet for talking points -- my team and I created a slide deck for the corporate leadership program I run, in case that’s helpful.
And if you want to get going on your own, I can help you with that, you’re invited to join me and a dynamic and intimate group of womxn, in my next group coaching experience to fast-track your leadership.