Minto Roy - Career - Recruitment Blog

In our politically correct world with its sanitized seasonally adjusted messages and 400 page risk management-inspired policy manuals, sometimes it’s hard for people to get the career advice they need to get out of their own way and get on the fast track. Minto and Alanna brave the dangerous and murky waters of workplace sexual politics this month and each takes a turn giving tips to the opposite sex.

Minto Roy 's Views for Women:

I have a lot of time for people who work hard, sweat the details, and consistently execute the behaviours that lead to success. That typically means that I have a lot of time for women. Women very often outwork men in business – like immigrant and other populations who weren’t always given the same advantages as others, they’ve had to work hard to get anywhere at all and the habitual work ethic they develop tends to get results.

To my women colleagues I also need to say, however: sometimes you work harder than you need to, and you work on the wrong things. Take on the projects which most drive bottom line and leave the rest to whoever is less suited for the tough stuff than you are – without fussing and worrying about whether it will get done. Keep your eyes on the prize. Big picture. Coach, mentor, develop people, yes. But rescue and mother them? NO.

When you chair a meeting, don’t bake a coffee cake and clean up after everyone else leaves. Don’t volunteer for every subcommittee and charity fundraiser. Don’t hang out with the other women in the office if the other women are not working at your level – hang out with your colleagues. Take your seat at the big table. And that means you have to stop ghettoizing yourselves in low-paying tactical and operational jobs – go where the money is. Work at a strategic level. (What is the deal with the 90% of women who make up the HR professionals in North America setting pay scales which reward other departments as investments and treat themselves as a cost to be reduced? Times have got to change!)

You’re as smart as men are and we know it. We just also know that a lot of you don’t know it. And we can’t respect you if you don’t respect yourself.

Minto Roy
President
CareersToday Canada
www.careerstodaycanada.com
www.mintoroy.net