A few weeks ago I went to a thought-provoking workshop titled Diversity 2.0, and during one of the discussions the topic of how to ‘call-out’ those in positions of power came up. It can be incredibly uncomfortable to ‘call-out’ someone you know who’s being racist or sexist, but it’s also one of the most important…
3 Practical Ways to Call Out Sexist Behavior at Work
Women face a number of challenges in the workplace. Many times, they’re invisible: lost opportunities for promotions, difficulty breaking into certain departments, and lower salaries, for example. Other times, however, there may be blatant sexism in the workplace. While women are the most likely to see sexism–or to be victims of it–men should also be…
3 Key Phrases Every Woman Should Practice
Speaking with confidence is a great way to portray yourself better at work. You know that you need to keep your shoulders back, your head up, and your eyes on the person you’re speaking to. In order to put your best foot forward, however, there are several key phrases you should practice until you’re able…
Well, Actually… 3 Ways Mansplaining Can Ruin a Collaboration
Collaboration. The word alone is enough to bring back the anxiety flashbacks from the high school group projects. You already know that you are not the slacker of the group, but you have to steel yourself to get through the project with that one employee who believes he has all the answers and wildly ignores the…
3 Simple Phrases All Women Can Use to Inspire Change in the Workplace
People fear public speaking more than death, according to The Huffington Post, but what if not speaking up results in something even more frightening? Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to begin. Whether you are wanting to get your idea out there, or speak up against workplace injustice, here are a few phrases to help…
Confidence or Arrogance? How to Tell the Difference
Confidence is key in the workplace, especially for female professionals. By definition, confidence is knowing that you are capable of something, which is exactly what employers are looking for when they choose someone to trust with an important task. But sometimes, confidence can cross a fine line and turn into arrogance. Where confidence is a positive…
Stop Being Polite, Start Getting Heard at Work
Within the professional domain, traits which are typically viewed as masculine are still highly valued: assertiveness, ability to negotiate, confidence, and yes, even a level of aggressiveness is still sometimes looked upon with respect. With the influx of women taking more roles in management, that perception is shifting towards more inclusion to a variety of communication…
Why Women Apologize Too Much and How We Can Stop
Young girls are constantly being shown by others that being assertive does not equate with being nice. Their parents, as well as society, models for them that being nice is best. The problem with these messages is that they require them to deny their own truths in order to appease someone else. They grow up…
Stop Saying “I’m Sorry” All The Time
Have you ever found yourself saying, “I’m sorry…” to someone who’s being rude to you? Or mumbling, “Pardon me…” as a stranger knocks you out of the way? Or have you ever found yourself feeling guilty about responding to an email later than the minute you receive it, and so starting your response off with,…
Four Common Gendered Insults We Need to Eliminate in the Workplace
It’s 2016, and sexism should be a thing of the past. Even if you know, however, that the gender balance isn’t completely equal, you may not be aware just how prevalent small biases continue to be, especially in the workplace. These little biases may appear in the form of gendered insults in the workplace, often against…