The 12 Habits Holding Women Back Series | Habit #2
Jan 20
3 min read
Breaking Free from the Expectation Trap!
Welcome to part two of our series, The 12 Habits Holding Women Back, where we’re exploring the obstacles that hold women back from advancement in leadership. As a refresher, these habits come from How Women Rise, a book written by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith. The 12 habits are:
Reluctance to Claim Your Achievements
Expecting Others to Notice and Reward Your Contributions
Overvaluing Expertise
Building Rather Than Leveraging Relationships
Failing to Enlist Knowledgeable Allies
Putting Your Job Before Your Career
The Perfection Trap
The Disease to Please
Minimizing
Too Much Emotion, Too Many Words
Ruminating
Letting Emotional Radar Distract You
Did you miss Habit #1 in the series? Click back here to read it!
As we continue to examine the barriers and habits that hold women back in their professional careers, it's important to recognize that these are often unseen and deeply ingrained in how we go about our work. This can make them challenging to overcome, but by acknowledging and addressing these habits head on, women can unlock their full potential and achieve their goals. So, let’s dive in!
Habit #2: Expecting Others to Notice and Reward your Contributions
Women often assume that their hard work and dedication will be automatically recognized and rewarded by superiors or colleagues. However, this expectation can lead to:
Frustration and disappointment when their efforts go unnoticed
Lack of real visibility and recognition for their contributions
Missed opportunities for career advancement
The Waiting Game: Understanding Why Women Expect Recognition
Research suggests that:
Women are socialized to prioritize teamwork and collaboration over individual achievement
A fear of being perceived as "too assertive" or "too ambitious" leads them to wait for recognition rather than seeking it out
Cultural expectations emphasize humility and modesty over self-promotion
These societal expectations can have a profound impact on women’s careers, causing them to underestimate their worth and hesitate to seek recognition by simply waiting to be noticed.
Take Charge: Strategies for Seeking Recognition
Don't wait for others to notice your contributions – take charge by finding opportunities to celebrate yourself and embrace self-promotion:
Keep track of your accomplishments and prepare regular progress reports
Schedule regular check-ins with your superiors to discuss your contributions and career goals
Seek feedback and endorsement from colleagues and mentors
Develop a personal brand and online presence to showcase your expertise and achievements
On that last point, in today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for career advancement. I’ve seen countless women neglect to celebrate their achievements on platforms like LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to create space for yourself! Share your accomplishments, engage with your network, and showcase your expertise.
A Few Take-Aways
By recognizing and overcoming this habit, women can take charge of their careers and seek the recognition they deserve. Here are a few immediate questions to ask yourself:
What contributions have you made in your current role that you can highlight to your superiors or colleagues?
Who can you ask for feedback and endorsement to support your career goals?
What steps can you take to develop your personal brand and online presence?
Overcoming the hesitation to actively seek out recognition might not come easy, but that’s where I can help! Get in touch with me and let’s chat about how my executive coaching services can support you in developing a strategy to break free from the expectation trap.
Stay tuned for the next article in our series, where we’ll dig into Habit #3: Overvaluing Expertise.