This article was originally featured on Forbes.
As women, we often learn—through experience or by others—that we need to temper our expectations. There is a certain flow to things, a set of experiences and a series of tests to pass before we’re qualified enough to reach the top. In the corporate world, we know it as the ladder: a row of rungs you must step up before you can reach your peak.
In addition to all these rules about how to get to the top, it can feel like you have a whole new set of expectations to meet once you get there. You have to think about how to act, what to say (or not to say), and when to assert yourself.
I’ve been there. I worked my way up from executive assistant to CMO of a rapidly growing company in a relatively short period of time. And during that rise, there have been times when I doubted the ideas I brought to the table; I even had a bit of imposter syndrome. But, through my tenure and my growth both as a person and as a professional, I’ve learned a few key truths.
You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room to be respected. You don’t need to fit the classic “executive” cliche. You have a chance to offer up a different perspective and approach things from a new point of view. If you were invited to the table, it’s because you have something to say. When you do speak up, people will likely listen.
A mentor of mine once told me that it’s okay to fight for an idea. Sometimes, our natural tendency may be to be peacemakers. It can be nerve-wracking to ruffle feathers or speak up for a concept that maybe isn’t the popular choice. But if there is an idea that you really believe in, you should go to bat for it. If you really care about the concept, the best thing you can do is to come prepared. Bring a plan, have the details already mapped out and talk about the benefits. Share your entire vision.
There is so much power in women supporting each other. Cultivate your network and stick with them. It’s invaluable to have that space where you can ask those questions around things like: “How would you handle this situation? How do you approach this topic when it’s all men in the room? What could I have done differently?” Having advocates both within and outside the company can provide a major mental boost.
Beyond all else, you need to put your head down and work hard. The best thing to do is to focus and build on your weak areas, and people will likely start to build trust in you and see that you’re a big contributor who is dedicating themselves to succeeding. When you bring future ideas to the table, they’ll listen. Gaining respect is a combination of doing the work and having confidence that you can cultivate the abilities you don’t yet have. As women, the gates are opening up, and there are arguably more seats at the table than ever before, but it’s our job to share the load, advocate for one another and do the background work to get ourselves there. The ladder is in front of you, but the first step is up to you.
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About Qualified
Qualified is the pipeline generation platform for revenue teams that use Salesforce. Headquartered in San Francisco, Qualified is ranked #1 on the Salesforce AppExchange and is led by former Salesforce CMO Kraig Swensrud and former Salesforce product SVP Sean Whiteley. Qualified is funded by Sapphire Ventures, Tiger Global, Norwest Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures. To learn more, visit qualified.com.
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