With the holidays already here and much of America heading back to the office, women are opting to do things differently. Forty percent of those attending the recent Pink Power Alliance Zoominar said they’re now redefining what they want from work, and 25 percent say they have already altered the way they work and live based on what they learned during the pandemic. Camye Mackey, EVP & Chief People, Diversity & Inclusion Officer for Atlanta Hawk says, “This is the time” for women to get what they want at work. “We’re part of the conversation right now. There are some exciting solutions. It’s up to us to take action.”
With US employers facing a talent crunch as Americans quit at record rates, PINK’s team of experts said this is the time for women to be especially vocal about what they need in order to balance their many responsibilities and take care of themselves too, while fully contributing to their organizations. “Have the confidence to say what you want to do at work and what you need at home. Women are obligated to ask for it,” said Camye. UPS Director of Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, Elba Pareja- Gallagher said this is “a window of opportunity we’ve never had before.”
More than half of those on the PINK zoom, (53%) said they’re most concerned about Life Balance. Another 21 percent say they’re worried about Burnout. PINK’s experts encouraged the women to put themselves first despite other immediate demands they face and to be very clear about what they want.
Author, Speaker, Purpose Coach, and Founder of the Pajama Program Genevieve Piturro says many women do want to go back into the office. “Women like the stimulation in person. I see a lot of women who are excited to get back.” Some are opting not to go back into the office all the time. Genevieve says, “We can have both. Through Covid we proved it can be done. So now we don’t want [that flexibility] to be taken away.”
While policies vary by company, Elba says at UPS, “We’re going department by department, manager by manager deciding what’s right for their team” in terms of remote versus in-office work. She says managers need to hear from women about what they want. “None of that means anything if we don’t have the courage to speak up.”
To better establish priorities and set limits, Elba, who founded Show Me 50, suggested making a list in the form of a pie chart showing how you spend your time. She says she did this herself. “I listed the hours I spent on key components.” What then? Take a close look she says. “Sit down and think about how you spend your precious time and ask, is this what you want? Take control of your time. Be intentional. Protect your time, your personal priorities.”
Easier said than done with the multitude of responsibilities working women juggle. The experts offered specific tactics that have worked for them. “Place calls on hold,” said Camye. “Say, ‘No. Not now.’” Other suggestions included putting time for yourself on the calendar, and including things that feed your spirit and reduce stress such as exercise, meditating, taking a walk, breaking for lunch.
Genevieve urged the women to “Avoid tentative language. [such as] ‘I think,’ ‘I’m not sure.’ ‘I was wondering…’” She also advised everyone to “Get over being liked. Believe in your ideas, suggest them confidently along with a few of the positive outcomes they’ll deliver.” In contrast to our “likeability” issue, she said men make their point and have their ideas implemented, even if they’re not the best ideas in the room.
PINK’s team of thought leaders encourages women to build relationships and stay connected with key folks at work; especially the boss. They said, “Find a way. Have coffee. Meet via zoom. Then set limits.” Genevieve says identifying a sponsor is key, someone you can talk to, who can be an advocate. They emphasized how important it is to clarify expectations. “Share results of your efforts,” said Genevieve, “and how you were able to achieve them, [maybe] at home.”
She suggests sharing what you want to do to excel at work, and what you need to make it work at home, and establishing a routine that makes you happy. Genevieve said, “Have the meeting. Make sure you’re on the same page [with your boss]. Make sure you’re both getting your needs met. We need to treat it as a conversation.”
The chat during the zoom was abuzz with added input as attendees emphasized highlights and shared their personal experiences. Kesha Clinkscale, an administrator at a rural Georgia hospital said, “I have been in the office 100% since the onset of the pandemic to the present day.” Lia Balanag, Director, Global Voice Programs at IHG said, “Being intentional with your time is so important; making sure you make time for the important [rather than the] urgent.” Coach Joyce Auskelis said, “As women, we are naturally other-focused. It takes intentionality to practice self-care and sometimes it feels selfish, but it is necessary.”
Following the live zoom, attendees were invited to an intimate one-on-one networking session with the career coach and our two top corporate leaders. Don’t miss the next PINK Power Alliance Zoominar as you set your New Year’s resolutions.
By Cynthia Good
“Be brave enough to live life creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful.” – Carla Harris
What’s Next:
New Year Goals & Priorities on January 13th, 12:00 -1:00 pm EST
Featuring The Coca-Cola Company’s Global VP, Head of Talent & Development Tapaswee Chandele; as well as renowned Career Strategist, Connector, and Speaker Joyce Auskelis of DefiningNEXT, LLC.
Interested in the PINK Power Alliance? CLICK HERE for details.
And Join Us:
May 2022 for PINK’s Signature Spring Empowerment Event featuring Carla Harris, Vice Chair, Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management
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