It’s Time to Stretch Ladies

No, you’re not late for yoga class.

The kind of stretching I’m referring to is within the halls of your workplace and in business.

There has been much discussion of late regarding women’s underrepresentation in the C-Suite and in Boardrooms. Granted yes, some of this is due to exclusion and other factors beyond our control, but some things we can control, and we should be taking a stronger hand in how our future unfolds.

One key factor is our ability to STRETCH.

By this I mean Stretching to the position we want rather than waiting until we have 100% of the requirements listed for a position. The article below by Ros Taylor –in which I’ve highlighted a few key phrases that jumped out at me—details something I’ve witnessed throughout my career in how many women position themselves in the workplace:

“…I’m increasingly aware of a reticence among females to push themselves forward….my female peers prefer to remain at the back of these gatherings (re: business events). They lurk around the periphery while men tend to be happy to take prime position right at the front…I mention this observation because not coming to the front seems a telling symbol of how women often behave at work: head down, focus on delivery, praising the team not themselves.”

I love Ms. Taylor’s recommendations to help improve women’s participation at the executive levels and on boards, and we should come to the front more. To that end, I want to add Stretching to the list.

I’ve been very fortunate to have family and strong female mentors who helped me see that I could Stretch (and I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was also a little stubbornness and spite mixed in with this if anyone ever told me 'No' or  that I 'couldn't do something'). But time and again, I’ve had women say to me they wish they could be a manager, director, VP, CEO (whatever the next level up was for them), but they believed they ‘didn’t have all of the skills required’ or ‘weren’t ready’ or ‘didn’t have a chance’. https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/women-boardroom/women-in-business/article/1487655

And worse, these were exceptionally talented women, women with real substance and an ability to deliver quality work or results consistently—but who stayed in the background while their male counterparts (who were willing to stretch into a role), got it.

Stretching means that you know you have 80-90% of a job’s requirements and that you can learn the other 10-20% on the job while you’re doing it. That other 10-20% is what is supposed to challenge you to grow and expand your skills base. Stretching is simply having confidence in your capacity to learn, deliver and reach goals (yours and the organizations).

I’ve always said: “if it doesn’t scare you a little, then why do it?”

I believe as women, we need to be bold, to step forward and be confident in our ability to Stretch into that next role, to that next level. And if you are unsure, just ask for help, mentorship or coaching from someone who already has a role like the one you aspire to assume. It's out there for you if you need it. Because ladies, just like an athlete, everyone benefits from coaching and we must stretch for optimal performance.

Namaste.