The ability to value yourself, coupled with strong negotiation skills, are critical in terms of determining your own worth and value, and the value which others place upon you.
Society typically determines value through monetary measures – what you make in terms of salary if you work within the corporate realm, or revenue generated by your business if you are an entrepreneur. In a newsletter, subscribers were asked to respond to the question of whether or not there were disparities in the value that society places on work performed by women. Over 65 per cent of subscribers agreed that there were indeed disparities. Not surprising when you look at the differential in earnings between men and women. Yet, women help to perpetrate some of the devaluation that occurs.
So, how do we perpetrate the cycle? Think back to the last time you changed jobs, asked for a promotion or submitted a bid on job that you wanted and perhaps, desperately needed.
When it came time to ask for the salary you wanted or the fee you deserved, what did you do? Many women are guilty of the “psychological” one-down. Instead of asking for what they wanted, they have a conversation with themselves telling themselves why they wouldn’t get what they wanted.
The outcome: they wound up asking for less than what they wanted or deserved, and in many cases, less than what they would have been able to receive. This sends a subtle message that we don’t value ourselves and therefore, society doesn’t need to either. So what can we do to stop this cycle of devaluing women’s work and worth in society?
1. Take inventory of yourself and determine your unique value proposition.
2. Determine the skill sets that you need and make time to practice those skills regularly.
3. Help other women by placing a high value on the contributions that they make.
4. Eliminate the negative self-talk and work on improving your own positive self-esteem.
5. Treat yourself with the same respect and value you give to colleagues.
And finally, remember believe in your value and others will too!
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Copyright 2006 Red Ladder, Inc.