Shattering the (Inner) Glass Ceiling

In a recent talk for SIM Central Florida Women in Tech, I tackled the glass ceiling head-on. Not the one all women in tech face because of external barriers like bias or lack of representation.

Rather, the “inner” glass ceiling that keeps many of us from acknowledging our full worth and potential.

To say the talk was empowering would be an understatement. In a room full of ambitious, smart, accomplished women, we delved deep into the concept of embracing authenticity and self-acceptance. We discussed the importance of creating spaces where women in tech can show up as their full and true selves.

Because sometimes the internal barriers that are holding us back from reaching our full potential—our limiting beliefs, fears, and doubts that cloud our vision and undermine our confidence—are the hardest ones to break. Yet, this “ceiling” is one that we can control.

 In my SIM talk and others, I’ve covered the idea of liberating the “wisdom in the room”—that’s when we take all the negative stereotypes that have been attributed to women leaders and turn them into statements of your worth and value.

You’re not “intimidating;” you’re persistent and tenacious. You’re not “direct;” you are honest and brave. You’re not “pushy” or “bossy;” you are passionate. And you’re not “emotional;” you are authentic. 

So much of my T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™ is to help women do just that—to break free of their own self-doubts and what’s holding them back so that they can “thrive” in their personal and professional lives.

On top of multi-dimensional and transparent leadership assessments and coaching that’s tailored to your needs and challenges, what we really focus on are the ways that you can break your “inner” glass ceiling.

Whether that’s through “Reclaiming Your Power” (the “R” in my operating system) or “Voicing Your Vision” (the “V” in T.H.R.I.V.E.) by articulating your purpose and how you plan to achieve it, the key to breaking your “inner” glass ceiling is in discovering your unique strengths and being honest about what you want to achieve.

I invite you to use the “Embracing Your Unique Drivers and Defining Your Strengths” activity directly from my T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™ to identify your core character strengths and note those areas for development. Engage in self-reflection and journaling to explore your values, passions, and goals. Seek feedback from trusted colleagues and mentors to gain different perspectives and insights.

And, then schedule a call with a trusted coach—like me—who can help you turn your potential into a plan—and a sledgehammer to smash through everything that’s holding you back from who you want to (and can) be.

Additional Supporting Resources:

• How Women in Tech Can Advance Their Careers: This article from Harvard Business Review offers practical advice for women in tech on how to navigate the male-dominated industry, build their networks, and showcase their skills and achievements.
• Women in Tech Statistics: The Hard Truths of an Uphill Battle: Despite national conversations about gender diversity in tech, women are still underrepresented, underpaid, and often discriminated against in the tech industry. Diversity is critical to IT performance. Diverse teams perform better, hire better talent, have more engaged members, and retain workers better.
• Why Everyone Wins With More Women In Leadership: This article from Forbes explains the benefits of having more women in leadership positions in business, such as increased innovation, profitability, and consumer insight. It also provides some tips and strategies for women to break the glass ceiling and thrive in their careers.

Denise Musselwhite is a tech executive turned leadership coach, speaker, and strategist. After 25 years in the tech industry, she founded Tech & Thrive, a coaching and consulting practice that provides personalized coaching solutions to help women and diverse professionals in tech overcome the hidden barriers holding them back. Learn more about Denise and her coaching at denisemusselwhite.com.