plus: politics vs. performance.
by ida o. abbott
sponsoring women: what men need to know
many women are uncomfortable calling attention to their achievements and ambitions, dislike politics, have difficulty asking others for a career boost or underestimate the importance of powerful backers. that makes it harder for potential sponsors to recognize how worthy these women are of their support.
more on sponsoring women for leadership: women fight ‘kids first’ perception | women judged on performance, men on potential | 3 ways women benefit when seen as leaders | being the best means including women
some women hurt their own chances for sponsorship by failing to let sponsors know what they want and why they merit it. sponsors are drawn to star performers who display confidence and a drive to succeed. where a man might insist he is the right person for a job and asks to be promoted, a woman who is equally or even better qualified may downplay her qualifications for the job. instead of aggressively pursuing promotions and opportunities, she waits to be asked, and then, when asked, may turn the offer down. why?
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