Don’t be a part of their story for any longer than necessary.
For high-achieving women, it’s an uncomfortable place.
When the career you chose twenty years ago has lost its shine – or you thought it would be one thing but it turned out to be something else. Maybe the cultural landscape leaves you feeling so compromised you wonder how you can bear it any longer.
Overlooked and overwhelmed perhaps you’ve realised you’re tired of making sacrifices to fit into a mould that wasn’t shaped for you.
I’ve been there. Feeling stifled, powerless and frustrated, you may persuade yourself that sticking it out is better than the unknown of stopping and choosing again.
But it’s not just your short-term well-being you’re putting on the line by pushing through, your long-term health and wellness will suffer too. Now’s the time to face your fears and get in touch with what lights you up.
Because in the process of rewriting the rules for yourself, there’s an opportunity to transform the working lives of other women like you too.
The stories that keep us frozen.
Something’s not right. You can’t put your finger on it but as women in business, we’re too often told to ignore our inner voice and stop making a fuss over nothing. Nevertheless, the feelings that come about from misalignment slip through the gaps, no matter how conscientious we are at plugging them up.
You know you’re doing well and you’re a good leader but it’s tough. You’re told that the hardships are just part of the job but you can’t help wondering whether there’s a better, more effective and human way of doing things.
An internal battle erupts. What you’re being asked to do doesn’t feel good but the job is what you wanted. You chose this path and you should be thankful. Not everyone gets an opportunity like this, right?
Somehow the role has morphed in front of you and you have had little control over it. Maybe a restructuring has left you in a position misaligned with your skills and interests but somehow you’re still there, soldiering on.
Maybe a culture of bullying, casual discrimination and macro-aggression has subtly made its way in under your nose. One report found that 59% of women have experienced harassment in the workplace, with the majority of these cases going unreported.
There are bills to pay and the fear of not meeting your responsibilities is deafening.
Perhaps you’re dealing with toxic gender norms that have don’t reflect your reality, desires or capabilities. You’re a woman and you want to work in a way that suits your body, cycles and circumstances but you feel unable to speak up.
But it’s not sustainable. We know this because women are leaving their roles in leadership at an unprecedented rate.
Don’t kill the golden goose.
Women are more likely to suffer burnout than men. If you’ve reached this point and you’re wondering what you’re doing this all for, then it’s time to stop and regroup. The physical damage that can result from pushing through can be life-changing and long-lasting.
As women we need to have the courage to walk away – not just for us but the generations that will come after us. It’s in our power to vote with our feet and affect change.
4 tips to nudge you forward.
It’s possible to be addicted to busyness because it distracts us from the real issues that we need to deal with. So if you’re ambitious but tired of the nonsense getting in your way, then it’s time for a radical rethink.
Shift out of self-blame mode. See this situation for the gift that it is – your body is suffering but it’s telling you something, drawing your attention to what’s wrong. So listen. Is it really you or are you being asked to perform the impossible?
Give yourself time to get reacquainted with you – time and space to do the deep inner work. Book yourself a hotel room for one to reset your system, for example. Feel the liberation of shameless naps. This is about genuine self-care.
When you’re sat on your own, you have no choice but to listen to yourself. It’s time to strip away what other people think of you and your decisions. The thoughts that come up may be uncomfortable but that’s OK. They’ll serve as the signposts you need to move forward.
Decide to act and be serious about it. Be willing to experiment with change and explore the possible.
New opportunities await.
It’s 2024 and about time we learned how to play differently.
Interestingly, the women leaving their leadership roles are not leaving the workforce, they’re either upgrading to firms that know their worth or they’re entering entrepreneurship.
Companies can talk about wellbeing all day but if they’re putting profits before people, then it’s meaningless. Smart organisations are changing the way they work and they’ll reap the rewards.
The ones refusing to budge or moving too slowly will lose out on the talent they need to perform. So, don’t be a part of their story for any longer than is necessary.
If you’re exhausted by the challenges and tired of enduring the bullshit, you don’t have to keep going like this. Let’s join forces to discover your inner wisdom and awaken the warrior within. It’s time to discover the kind of self-leadership that will take you into a more sustainable, energised and aligned career.