7^th March 2013 will forever remain etched in my memory. This was the day, when writer Nazia was actually recognized formally. Yes, the below article of mine, got published in NHRDN BBSR Chapter’s First quarterly E-newsletter, DHRISTI, means Vision. And it was released today, on the occasion of W-Power Workshop organized by NHRDN BBSR at New Marrion. The Icing on the cake was the wonderful introduction written by my Mentor for me.

In my mentor’s words…

Nazia is based at Bhubaneswar, and she is a goal-oriented go-getter.  She is very clearly focussed on her objectives, and will walk any extra miles to achieve them.  Articulate in both oral and written communication, her repository of competencies also includes the ability to work hard and play hard.

Intelligent, inspired and invigorating, thats Nazia in a nutshell!

Can’t just stop grinning! ;)

Here goes the famed article J

Glass Ceiling, Myth or Reality?

During the initial few meetings of NHRDN BBSR Chapter, when the idea of having a workshop for women germinated, we used to have hearty debates on the probable theme of the workshop. Then one fine day, we decided, why not take the bull by its horns and face the challenge head-on! Why is the percentage of women at senior levels in organizations across industries so low? Why is the gender diversity at the top so skewed?

The statistics are baffling. Only 6% of the Fortune 500’s top executives are female. And just 2% of those firms have women
CEOs. Less than one in ten businesses has a female CEO, with women largely employed in finance and Human Resources role.

Women are ahead of men in most of the spheres of life. Be it the percentage of folks, passing out of schools or colleges, or be it the competitive exams for getting admission into Engineering and medical colleges. At entry level also, the percentage of women is higher in organizations. But as they rise up the ladder, the percentage of women steadily declines. So where do all of them vanish? It is analogous to the disappearance of mammoths or dinosaurs. Sudden and inexplicable. Superficially, it may appear that the reason for women’s disappearance from the top in organizations is mainly because of two reasons, Marriage & Motherhood and the complications arising thereafter. But it is just the tip of the ice-berg. The actual reason lies hidden deep within.

Glass Ceiling.

Yes, ladies & gentlemen! The proverbial glass ceiling does actually exist.

Women have to work doubly hard to prove people that they are as good as men. They have to manage work as well as family. As if that was not enough, now they have to face the invisible barrier called glass ceiling to reach the top. They have to fight the popular perception of “Softy” & “Abala naari” and prove their competency. Apart of juggling office & home, one major challenge that women face in the corporate world today is the lack of social networking opportunities.(Not virtual). Since most of the women do not smoke or drink, they lose out on this opportunity to network and move ahead in the social ladder. As we all know, most of the deals are clinched in informal platforms like smoking zone and office parties, rather than mails or calls, women stand at a disadvantage here. Now who wants to be passive smokers and destroy the future embryo within, at the cost of moving ahead in career. Very few I suppose.

Safety is also one major concern for women today. Women cannot spend long hours at office and have to be at home at a decent hour (To avoid social stigma), thus compromising on the manager’s so called notion of “Reliability” & “Dependability”. Superiors feel, why not give the brownie point to a guy who spends extra-long hours in office, ignoring the fact that, he might be coming late to office or spending 3 hours on an average in smoking zone/Food court/Gym! Is efficiency or effectiveness synonymous with long hours?

It is an established fact that women are better multi-taskers than men. And it is this very fact, that goes against women when it comes to getting over-burdened with work. We are expected to be the perfectionists/divas in all walks of life. From cooking to cleaning, everything is dependent on us. The pressure is huge, to live up to the expectations of all the stakeholders, superiors in office, family at home. One of my married colleagues was narrating her recent experience…

Husband to Wife : Hey, Did you check out that article on XYZ topic in ET today?

Wife : Nopes, I have to put the baby to sleep now…

Husband : You should keep yourself abreast with the global happenings at least! (Free-fund ka gyan)

Wife : In thinking mode…(Sure! Why not! Why can’t you volunteer to take care of the baby, for a change. After all, I am also working in office, just like you. Why does the onus lie with me, when it comes to managing this household?

The above incident is just one of the many, that women have to face today.

Research and numerous Gallup surveys have proved that women in leadership roles have been hugely successful, ‘coz that’s the role they have been playing since birth. It all begins at home, after all. But fighting against the perception of the male-dominated society, is what makes the life of a woman difficult. And when the going gets too tough, they are not left with any other option but to simply give up, all their childhood ambitions and career aspirations melt away in the hope of giving a comfortable life to their families.

Now coming to the way out, how to break this glass ceiling? One can solve a problem, only if you accept the existence of it. Once we acknowledge the issue, the solution become very clear. There are many solutions actually, not just one. Some are within our zone of influence and some beyond it. Raising one’s voice in appropriate communication forums in organizations to create or change policies, that affect women can be a beginning in this direction. Be it the Work from home policy or crèche at office, even a single step can be a manna from heaven! Educating one’s superiors and peers regarding gender biasness and how it can poison the atmosphere in a workplace. Third, working hard and ignoring all kinds of negativity around you.

I have always believed in a simple mantra, “There is no substitute to hard work”. Smart male workers can fool managers sometimes by taking short-cuts, but in the long term, this erodes the credibility. Honesty & genuineness always make a difference. Hard work wins the hearts of even the harshest of critics.

To conclude, I will borrow a line from a very famous quote, “When you truly desire something in life, the entire universe will conspire to make it happen for you.” (Provided you have worked hard enough, for itJ )

So, all you pretty ladies out there, throw caution to the wind, and march ahead relentlessly in pursuit of excellence!