Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and of course… Carrie. It seems that talk about Sex and the City is EVERYWHERE lately… TV commercials, radio interviews, Facebook pages, magazine ads… you name it! With the release of the new Sex and the City movie, I thought this would be a great time to talk about just why we love these characters so much. Each of these women embodies four distinct roles of which every woman in the country can relate to. Behind those roles, they are strong, motivated and ambitious – qualities women across the world have come to admire.
When it comes to their careers, the SATC women have got it all. Whether working as a famous columnist and book author, a manager of an art gallery (formerly), a career-minded lawyer or an independent businesswoman with a career in public relations, three of the four main SATC characters has never failed to show prowess when it comes to workplace aspirations (for the sake of focusing on the careers in the workplace, we’re excluding Charlotte on this one because she chose motherhood as a full-time job!). I mean, after all, how do you expect any of these women to buy a pair of extravagant Christian Louboutin shoes without some success on the job?!
Today, more women are graduating from college than men. Women have come a long way as successful professionals and an increasing number continue to make a greater impact on various industries and professions. According to the Department of Labor, women are expected to comprise 46.5 percent of the estimated 164.2 million persons of the labor force in 2016.
So, as the number of women in the workplace continues to grow, it’s more important now than ever to make sure you’re comfortable being a strong woman if you want to succeed and move up in ranks. If your favorite Sex and the City characters could give you advice on how to feel empowered in the workplace, what do you think they’d say? I’ve come up with a list of tips inspired by these SATC characters to help empower all women out there. So grab a cocktail, leave on your favorite pair of heels and start reading these simple ideas that will help empower the working woman starting today:
First off, stand up straight! Body language accounts for 55 percent of your conversation, so if you think your posture is good, check again. Look in the mirror and make sure your back is straight or line up against the wall and feel how your back presses onto it. Standing up straight may seem inconsequential, but it can actually act as a way to show others how you are, the way you see things and the way you approach life.
Learn how to own your voice and assert your opinions. Studies show that women are more frequently interrupted than men. Over the course of many conversations, they get the message that what they have to say is not necessarily as compelling or valued as what men have to say. Stick to your guns and don’t back down. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Truly practicing this can lead to meaningful and effective communication. Not only will you be known as an honest and sincere person, but you’ll also get used to speaking your mind and being heard.
Don’t scare yourself with negative thoughts. Instead, why don’t you let go a bit and take some risks? Stop putting yourself down and start doing something to affect your situation in a positive way. Let go of some of your inhibitions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. If you change your mindset, you may find yourself freed from some of those fears that held you back before.
Learn how to ask and negotiate for raises and promotions. If you want a higher salary or a promotion, you need to prove you deserve it! That means you need evidence to show your boss that you’ve earned it. In this situation, education can be your best defense. Research everything you can think of to find the competitive salary for your job in your region, including employment surveys, libraries, professional organizations and knowledge from peers. If you want a promotion, you may want to consider keeping a job diary where you can write down what you’ve done and how it has helped meet the company’s objectives. Have you ever taken on more challenging tasks or responsibilities outside of your own role? These will help support your case.
Join a professional group, organization outside of work, or maybe just volunteer some of your time to a cause you feel passionate about. Being part of something outside of the workplace can in turn work for you when you’re on the job. It never hurts to put yourself out there and network outside of work, which could later lead to professional connections, business partners or potential customers! Plus, the more contacts you have, the more valuable of an asset you’ve become to any company you choose to work for. While you’re at it, why not combine a cause you are passionate about with networking opportunities? Getting involved on a board of directors or committee for a cause will give you great insight on leadership and teamwork while making a positive impact.
At the end of the day, one lesson resonates beyond the glamorous movies storylines and real life challenges women face – whatever you do, stay true to yourself and realize that you alone have a great influence. Women have the potential to rise as leaders as long as they can embrace their own strengths within.
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