1. Be a mentor
Remember how terrified you were on your first day? You would've bitten off your arm fora mentor, we bet. "Mentors are important because they offer guidance without judgement," says Olcay Gulsen, owner and creative director at Supertrashclothing (with an annual turnover ofover £13 million). Counting My-Wardrobe.com, Asos and Selfridges among herretailers, Olcay takes on between four and six interns at any one time, who shadow her and other senior members of the team.
"I started out my business in my early twenties, so I understand how important it is to mentor young people who show a passion in business and fashion," she says. And it's a two-way street. Olcay explains, "One of my most valuable employees, Kim Harmsen,started with us as an intern and is now European marketing manager, running the team!"
2. Ditch the office
Ever noticed how much more relaxed your colleagues are away from their desks? Lisa Thomas, CEO of M&C Saatchi UK Group, makes a point of meeting her staff somewhere less formal. Contributing to the M&C Saatchi Group graduate scheme and listed on the Institute ofPractitioners in Advertising Mentoring scheme, Lisa has regular lunches andcoffees with her mentees and colleagues. "One of the things I consider to be really important is helping others to realise that it's OK to be themselves, so I find that meeting for lunch or coffee is a great way ofgetting them to relax in an informal environment and chat more freely. People make far more progress this way,'' she says. Imagine how special you'd have felt ifa manager had asked you out for coffee when you'd just joined the team – youcould make someone's month!
3. Help others up the ladder
Filling a post with existing staff has major strengths– for starters, employees already know the company inside out. Anna Holloway,head of marketing for beauty retailer Lookfantastic.com, says she always seeks to promote from within to support her staff's career progression: "I always look for talent internally first. Promoting from within and hiring at junior ranks benefits not only the individual but the business, too. It promotes autonomy, proactivity and loyaltyto the company," she says. Appreciating that staff want to progress within their careers is vital and your support will be repaid with loyalty,tenfold.
4. Form a super support network
Companies like Sky have already cottoned on to the fact that professional supportnetworks are the handiest way for women to learn from each other. Sky's Senior Women's Development Network gives female employees the chance to get together andchew the fat with their colleagues every month. But it doesn't have to beformal – how about posting a message on your company's intranet (or kitchen fridge!) or pinging an email to women in similar job roles to you for a monthly lunch date? You'll be surprised how much you learn and what a relief hearingfrom women who understand your daily struggles can be. Get online to find women's networks near you – or even better, form your own!
5. Give compliments
It's official. Women have lower levels of confidence than men – in a poll of 3,000 people, only 30% of women under 30 said they expected to become senior managers compared with 45% of men. Plus, only 7% negotiate their salaries when they first enter the workplace compared to 57% of men. Self-doubt plays a major part in our failings in the workplace, says Yogeeta Misty, a senior executive Avon sales leader with more than 800 other reps in her team. "I try to get young women to remember their previous businesssuccesses – by doing this they're reminded of what is achievable." See acolleague flapping? Reassure her of her strengths and you'll all be a lot better off.
6. Admit your mistakes
Made a whopping error on that report you were filing? Fess up! Averil Leimon has coached senior management at Polaroid, HP, Unilever and Reuters. She says, "Be a role model! Women are often modest and don't realise that other,more junior women might value their advice or want to follow their example.Don't aim to be a Thatcher-type model of perfection all the time. Women feel relieved to know that you are a mess and sometimes make mistakes. Don't feel you have to get it right all the time! Sharing your experiences with other women helps them learn; it's not a bad thing."
VIA COSMOPOLITAN
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