1 . The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease Chances are , your male colleagues are constantly vocalizing which opportunities and projects they want — and you might be sitting there , working hard , and waiting to get what is rightfully yours . Sadly , most bosses are too busy to figure out what the most equitable project allocation is , and it often comes down to who yapped last to them about that hot media deal or the new partnership your company is launching .
If you aren ’ t good at grabbing your boss in the hall or during your morning coffee break and bringing up the projects that excite you , then schedule formal time to check in at least once a month and let your boss know what you ’ d like to work on .
2 . Beer is for Bonding The best career opportunities often come out of interactions outside the office — often over a beer or drink . The guys I ’ ve worked with would grab beers all the time — and I quickly learned to join them , whether or not I felt like drinking that particular night .
And if you ’ re not invited ( yes , this happened to me ), create your own happy hour invitation — who can turn down a cold brewski ?
3 . Avoid Being Too Easily Offended Guys have this thing at work called the Circle of Trust . You gain entry when they know they can be themselves around you , without being reported to HR . In the banking analyst bullpen , I heard every disgusting story there is to tell — but I stayed cool . And as a result , I eventually became part of the group and was included in the nights of ordering dinner in or going out for beers .
Note : There is a line , and “ staying cool ” doesn ’ t mean letting the guys cross it — sexual harassment is never OK .
4 . Don ’ t Be Anyone ’ s Coffee or Lunch Getter How many successful men in the workplace do you see picking up their boss ’ s lunch or coffee ? If you ’ re not someone ’ s assistant , do not get in the habit of acting like one . Sure , maybe there are special exceptions when your boss is in fire drill mode or decides to treat a group for getting his coffee — but don ’ t make it a regular thing .
And if your male peers aren ’ t chipping in — then you shouldn ’ t be doing it , either .
5 . Don ’ t Be the “ Yes ” Woman In the industries I ’ ve worked in , there ’ s tremendous pressure to work hard and keep an overflowing plate . Lunch and coffee runs aside , it ’ s all too easy to say yes to every project as you strive to “ be a good employee ”— but if you never say no , you ’ ll ultimately just hurt both yourself and your company .
It ’ s important to stand up for the projects you really want to work on ( see # 1 ), and then push back at other times when you don ’ t have capacity . You can bet many of the guys say no — and you should , too .
6 . Play to Your Strengths ( Even When They ’ re Stereotypes ) The first week of my banking internship , my managing director asked me how the interns were doing and feeling . I ’ m willing to bet he asked me partly because I was the only woman there , and he assumed I was therefore most likely to know about people ’ s “ feelings .”
But you know what ? I did . And thus started our mutually beneficial relationship : I gave him a live read of the pulse of the group he was managing , and he gave me the opportunity for senior exposure . Whether it ’ s listening , emotional aptitude , empathy , socializing or just being the den mother — if you have these strengths , play to them .
They ’ re good qualities to demonstrate as a rising future leader , and , particularly in a workplace where those skills are in short supply , they ’ re also not a bad way to get noticed .