Wonder what it takes to truly be successful in your career? If so read these nuggets of wisdom from my interview with Alexandra Levit, who consults, writes, and explores leadership development, entrepreneurship, career and workplace trends on behalf of American Express, Canon, Deloitte and many other companies. She is also a best selling author of They Don't Teach Corporate in College and a former nationally syndicated columnist for the Wall Street Journal and a current writer for the New York Times.
1) What would you say are the 3 biggest career blind spots that stop women from being successful in their career and how can they turn them around?
Blind Spot #1: Believing that being good at your job trumps everything.
You can be the most talented employee your company has ever hired, but if your contributions aren't visible and people don't value what you do, it simply won't matter. After all, if knowledge was power, then Wikipedia addicts would be running the world. Turn it around by spending a little more time promoting your job and your successes, and a little less time slaving away.
Blind Spot #2: Believing that if you do what you love, the money will follow.
Just because you have a passion for a particular area doesn't mean you will automatically make money doing it. There is a reason why 90% of all small businesses fail - sometimes a hobby is better left as a hobby. Turn it around by recognizing that meaningful work doesn't necessarily have to involve passion and that even people with their dream jobs don't love every second of every day.
Blind Spot #3: Believing that it's best to climb the ladder as fast as possible.
Getting promoted year after year requires a near-constant vigilance as well as a laser sharp focus on work - often to the detriment of everything else in your life. Higher titles usually bring longer hours, heavier responsibilities, and more politicking with them. Turn it around by enjoying your time as a middle manager or individual contributor and taking the opportunity to master transferable skills like sales, marketing, project management, finance, and client relations that will take you anywhere you want to go.
2) How can women actually use these blind spots to help them become authentic leaders?
If you've fallen prey to any of these blind spots, be honest about it. Share your experiences and how you've come out on the other side. Others will look to you as a role model, as someone who isn't perfect but who has gotten ahead by being savvy and realistic about how the business world operates.
To learn more about Alexandra and her work visit: http://www.alexandralevit.com/