How not to appear meek at work

Make the most of your career by learning how to present yourself

Over the years, there has been a rise in female employment across the country. According to the World Bank, the percentage of working women in the service sector alone has risen to 13.20% in 2013. Ladies are achieving success in virtually every field, from corporates houses to the political arena, all the while keeping house and never breaking a sweat.

But one thing that still stands in the way of their success is the lack of faith they have in their own abilities. All too often, a relatively opinionated woman — working or not — is dubbed as ‘bossy’ which discourages other women from voicing what they have to say. But appearing weak has its own drawbacks and we believe that today’s world is no place to hold yourself back. Follow these simple steps to look more confident and make your peers listen to you. After all, being ‘bossy’ can sometimes be necessary to get some work done!

• Don’t dawdle: It doesn’t matter if you are insecure about your ideas and scared of presenting them before a competitive team. You have to voice them as you never know how others might react. Always remember that what may be dull to you can be of great importance to another.

• Maintain balance: Being ‘bossy’ has a negative connotation but sometimes that is exactly how you should be to get things done. You do not want to get barraged with someone else’s work because they are too busy browsing Facebook, do you? You should be nice and helpful as well as bossy at times, balancing this attitude. Learn to say the omnipotent word ‘no’ to anyone who tries to take you for a ride.

• ‘I’ve got this’: If you look confident and believe in yourself, you can pull off anything. Things always seem challenging at first but remember that you have been made in charge of the assignment for a reason. So be poised and do not hesitate to ask for guidance should you need it. Reaching out to a superior or co-worker shows them how much you care about getting your task right.

• Get your swag on: If men can be so comfortable talking about themselves, why can’t we? Women should be comfortable about talking about themselves too. Whether you’re presenting a new idea, deciding to switch careers or hand in a resignation, you are highly likely to encounter at least one person who disagrees. The key is to stay true to where you came from, the experiences that you have gained and what your goals are.

• Confidence brings happiness: Every workplace has its own culture and social system. Therefore, fluctuating between a cool and confident persona and cockiness can get tough. One never realises when they blur the line and begin to come off as arrogant to their co-workers.  You must know when it is okay to boast a little about yourself and when you should charge into daunting circumstances. As the Hollywood starlet Mila Kunis said, “Confidence is not cockiness. Cockiness is knowing who you are and pushing it down everyone’s throat.”

SOURCE: COSMOPOLITAN.COM

Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, August 23^rd, 2015.