10 Ways You Can Get Ahead in the Workplace
Nora Denzel's Tips for Taking the Fast Track to the Corner Office
By Laura Deck

My Two Cents on Climbing to the Top

Visualize yourself at the top. Articulate your goals and aim high.

Don’t assume they know. Ask for what you want.

Challenge yourself and get comfortable feeling uncomfortable.

Focus on results.

Browse through the business section of any bookstore and you’ll find dozens of books on getting to the top. How to get that promotion or coveted assignment, how to leapfrog your peers, and how to accelerate to the corner office. There’s no shortage of advice, tips, inside secrets or alleged silver bullets. It’s a jungle out there, especially for women. But while we’re so busy focusing on the right things to do, we may inadvertently subvert our own efforts to advance our careers. It’s hard to pass on the left when you’ve just shot yourself in the toe.

"Some women possess inherent traits that cause them to hurt themselves," says Nora Denzel, a former Senior Vice President at Hewlett-Packard. She started her career as an engineer at IBM and rose rapidly through the ranks to become one of the youngest senior executives at IBM at age 33. As one of the few women at that level in the male-dominated world of technology, she was often asked to name the things outside of a woman’s control that holds them back. Based on thousands of women she has managed, Nora identified these career-limiting moves:

#1 Control your internal PR agent. "Women don’t understand they are their own PR agent. Every time you talk in the workplace it’s as if you have broadcasted a press release about yourself," warns Nora. Some women unknowingly send messages of personal incompetence. For example, Nora noted that when men are complimented about an exceptional presentation, they say thank you and reinforce the person’s assessment of their competence. When given the same compliment, women often downplay the accomplishment by blurting out everything they thought was wrong. Nora’s advice? Learn to say thank you when you’re complimented and don’t volunteer negative comments about yourself or your work.

#2 Women are shy about seeming too ambitious. If a superior asks you what your career goals are, have an answer at the ready and aim high. By articulating high goals in the workplace, other people begin to perceive you in roles with greater responsibility. By aiming low, some women inadvertently stunt their career growth by giving others a view that they are not interested in moving up.

#3 Women have a difficult time separating what they do from who they are. Work is set up to be antagonistic due to limited resources. It often pits groups against each other to gain attention. Sometimes women take this constructive conflict personally, and will do damage to their careers by avoiding the people that they perceive as enemies. Instead, we should learn to separate ourselves from our work and understand it’s set up to be competitive, not personal.

#4 Women don’t ask for what they want. Maybe we feel we don’t deserve what we’re asking for. Nora tells the story of Mike who kept asking her for an international assignment. When one unexpectedly turned up with a short deadline, Nora placed Mike on his dream assignment in Sweden. Ann, a colleague of Mike’s, asked Nora where the job was posted because she was interested in an international assignment too. Ann neglected one crucial step: she failed to ask Nora for what she wanted.

"I have yet to meet a boss who’s a mind reader," says Nora. What’s the worst thing that can happen if we ask for something? Someone says no.

#5 Women believe Miss Congeniality can win the beauty pageant. Some contestants are voted Miss Congeniality but never win the whole contest. Others come to win and are never voted Miss Congeniality. Nora points out, however, there are few women running large companies who would have won Miss Congeniality. Be clear what your goals are. She notes a little voice in women’s heads says "I need to conform and give in so they won’t be mad at me." "That will get you friends, but not the corner office," she says.

#6 Women show too much of their emotional hand. You’re scared? Facing a situation that calls for calm under pressure? Nora suggests you learn how to act through any situation. Ask yourself how would somebody who is confident handle the situation. If you emulate that confident person, you may soon become what you’re acting. "Don’t live a lie," cautions Nora, "but don’t let them know you’re scared."

#7 When women feel uncomfortable in a new position, they’re tempted to fall back on their previous job. Most people are terrified in a new job. While men won’t confess their fears, women will.

"You can be outstanding or comfortable but not both. If a job is comfortable, you’re not learning. Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable," urges Nora.

Feeling uncomfortable is a sign you’re learning and growing. She notes men will take a new job if they feel they have at least 10-20% of the qualifi cations. Women won’t accept a new job unless they feel like they possess 70-80% of the capabilities.

#8 Women have a hard time accepting criticism. "Whether it’s called feedback, input, or constructive criticism," says Nora, "learn to embrace it and view it as your friend." Think of it as the answers to the corporate test or a peek into the opposing coach’s playbook before a big game. Getting defensive or shooting the messenger is futile. Thank your boss profusely and take the advice to heart.

#9 Women color inside the lines and follow the rules. Many times women feel they need to conform to the organization’s rules - like the salary planning process where the company has rules for pay raises, or rules for entering into new markets. Women can also make rules at work, and by challenging the status quo, they are actually demonstrating leadership. They shouldn’t be scared to not follow all the rules.

#10 Women are judged on results, not effort.

"You don’t get extra credit for degree of difficulty," reminds Nora. Develop your own employment security by achieving results, cultivating a support network, and establishing a favorable reputation. No one’s career path is straight to the top, including Nora’s.

Although she rose far and fast at Hewlett-Packard, she says she could have advanced faster by avoiding some self-inflicted wounds.