Amid several factors that pose hurdles in the career progression for women, the lack of intentionality is a major obstacle. Being intentional is a combination of having milestones in perspective, and the skill sets to sustain and succeed.
Common quandary
As per studies, marriage and motherhood are known factors for the gap in women’s careers. With a lot of talk and spotlight on ensuring women’s participation in the workforce, India inc has taken a serious look at it. HR policies across sectors have factored in the needs of women as they double up as mothers and caregivers. However, the need to be inclusive also calls for efforts to usher in an environment of growth. Women need to be intentional with their careers and plan for them.
Studies have shown that career break happens most in the mid-career stage, when women are weighed down by demands on the domestic front. It is also imperative that they work and prepare on the intentionality before the mid-career stage.
While women have been toggling between domestic demands and their roles in workplaces, the plan and long-term thinking with a focus on the steps they need to take for an upward movement in their career graphs are missing.
Charter your path
An innovative training intervention, Avtar’s flagship training program called Intentional Career Pathing or ICP offers women professionals the needed ingredients and insight. Devised around the mid-term and long-term milestones, ICP enables women to pursue their career vision suitably.
The ICP has a mix of skill sets that are important for success— networking skills, negotiating skills, work-life integration, collaborative working, and problem-solving.
In an impact assessment at IBM, ICP yielded the required results. It established a strong career identity for the participants, identifying and addressing their leadership gaps and enhancing their employee engagement level. Most importantly, it also reduced the attrition of women professionals at the mid-career level.
In other results, ICP training showed a big difference in the energy levels, with a focus on finding solutions. They also witnessed a decrease in attrition, application of emotional intelligence, and greater employee engagement.
ICP indicates that intentionality and career aspirations help women realize their potential and professional goals, complementing organizational goals.
