When navigating through your chosen career, connecting with like-minded women can be crucial for your success as much as your sanity. The Community Director and CEO of Australian Businesswomen’s Network Suzi Dafnis says when looking to advance your career or business, having the right people around supporting and challenging you to be your best is extremely important.
“Other women striving for similar goals can appreciate the work you’re putting in, provide encouragement, be a solid sounding-board when you reach forks in the road, and share their own experiences so you can avoid mistakes,” she says.
Airline regional manager, Maryanne Galea, says she is lucky to have some very strong women in her network. “This support has embraced me along my career path and made those forks and bumps in the road much easier to navigate,” she explains.
Dafnis, whose organisation provides opportunities such as roundtable meetings and virtual networking, explains that this support usually cannot be met through spouses, parents or other family, as despite their best intentions, they are unlikely to be unbiased and objective with their advice. “Women unite over shared experiences, values and aspirations, and over time they can do amazing things for each other – whether it’s an introduction, or access to information that is not easy to access,” she says.
Global Banking Associate, Michelle Wong, says that over the years she has connected and socialised with women who are successful in their own careers. “It allows me to discuss ideas, concepts, and most importantly, vent when needed! My support also keeps me grounded and provides perspective,” she explains.
Understanding your priorities
Unfortunately, there can still be a lack of understanding when it comes to women putting work first. Wong says she always has pressure to be everything to everyone within the workplace and at home. “Over the years, I have missed many birthdays and parties, and relationships can become strained. This is not only the time you spend at work but also how exhausted you are when you aren’t at work,” she says.
Galea has found that her partner and friends with similar careers understand, but others struggle. “My like-minded friends and I have made an interesting observation on this very subject: if a male friend or colleague is late, or can’t attend a social function because of work commitments, it’s often completely accepted and understood. Why should it differ for females?” she says.
Supporting and sharing your goals
It’s easy to lose sight of your goals when you hit a bump in the road, but when those around you have hit the same bumps and continue to keep reaching for their goals, it inspires you to do the same.
“They understand the hurdles we face day to day as well as in the long term.” Wong says. “Even though equality in the workplace has improved, being in a male dominated environment has its challenges. We learn from shared experiences and motivate and inspire each other to achieve our professional goals.”
Celebrating your achievements
There’s nothing that takes the wind out of your sails quicker than having an accomplishment met with a complete lack of enthusiasm, particularly if you’ve worked hard to achieve it. Being able to share your successes with those who understand the effort you’ve put in can help keep your momentum going.
“I think that other business women just get it.” Galea says. “They have been on the same journey and faced the same hurdles, so when I talk about my day including my frustrations and successes, they completely understand exactly where I am coming from.”
Finding the positives in failures
Although there are always lessons to be learned from failures in business, it can be easy to forget that in the moment. Other women who have picked themselves up before can help give you the perspective you need. “When I’m going through a tough time and wondering where to go next or whether I should even go on, I know that there is someone I can talk to who has faced similar issues and can give me the clarity to keep moving forward,” Galea says.
Encouraging your financial ambitions
When trying to grow your business and make money, being cheered on by people who are out there doing the same thing can help keep you going and realise your financial goals. “For business owners, the role of an entrepreneur is so different to that of an employee that other business owners are your best bet for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration,” Dafnis advises.