For women, the second half of life brings with it many career choices and questions. For some women, continuing in a current career doesn’t fulfill personal, spiritual or financial needs as it once did. For others, re-entering the workforce has become a necessity due to the changes in the economy. In either case, a ReCareer may be the answer. What is a ReCareer?
"Paging Evelyn," I heard over the loudspeaker. "Paging Evelyn: your life is calling." I don't mean I literally received this message over a loudspeaker. It was more like one of those messages the universe likes to send us now and then when we're busy making other plans.
In Part 1, a number of different barriers that make up this labyrinth were identified: remnants of prejudice, resistance to women's leadership, leadership style, family life demands, and building professional relationships through networking. Only a small number of women have made the right combination of moves to arrive at the center of power, but for the rest there is no single turning point where their progress was diverted and the "prize" was lost.
The truth is that women aren't turned away just as they reach the pinnacle of their career. They disappear in numerous ways leading up to that stage. The path to the C-suite is not a simple or direct path, but one that requires persistence, awareness of how they're progressing, and an ability to analyze the obstacles that lie ahead. For women who aspire to top leadership positions the routes exist, but just like a labyrinth, they are full of twists and turns - some that are expected and others that come without warning or direction.
Despite being used by some well-meaning and intelligent coaches, the term “work-life balance” actually does women more harm than good. Balance brings forth the image of a scale, and implies that true balance is achieved when both sides of the scale have equal amounts of weight on them. It implies a 50-50 split, with “professional life” on one side and “personal life” on the other, and most of us know that achieving exact balance between the two rarely, if ever, happens.
According to a study conducted by professors at Oregon State University’s College of Business, women executives are more than twice as likely as men to leave their jobs. This is the case despite the fact that women now dominate the number of university graduates across almost all fields, and that most women, before the age of 30, are not only experiencing more success than their male counterparts, but the amount of money they are making is higher as well.
One of the obstacles along the career path to the C-suite has to do with leadership style. Women often struggle to develop an effective and appropriate leadership style, one that balances the "communal" qualities people would rather see in women with the "mover and shaker" qualities people think leaders need to be successful. Women are not "men in skirts," and there is the possibility that women who behave like men will be penalized. It's not easy for a woman to strike that authentic balance as a leader.
Habit and repetition are what float the boat and after querying clients, colleagues and mentors, I've put together ten of the most effective success habits you can incorporate into the daily ritual of how you work. And how you get things done. Really and truly done. Imagine that?!
Just like climbing. Breathe. Step. Rest. Hydrate. Breathe. Step. Rest. Hydrate. The mountaineering/business-or-bust mantra.
Professional Coaching for the Midlife Woman 