Archive for category: Women Empowerment Articles

Is It Time to Ask for a Raise? Consider this!

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If you’ve successfully held a position at work for a while or find that your responsibilities have multiplied, you may ask yourself: Is it time to ask for a raise?

Look, we know you may not feel very comfortable talking about it, and in a world where these things depend solely on merit you wouldn’t have to. But in the real world, learning when to ask for a raise is as important as doing a great job.

It's critical to learn to ask for a raise - Photo Credit- Amy Hirschi-Unsplash

It’s critical to learn to ask for a raise – Photo Credit- Amy Hirschi-Unsplash

The good news is that it may not be as dire an experience as you imagine. While men are still more likely to get a raise in many fields, studies in some countries have found that up to 80% of the women who ask for a raise will get one (and that there are still many women who don’t).

According to PayScale’s latest 2023 Gender Pay Gap Report, in the U.S. women make only $0.83 for every $1 that men earn, and while the difference between the earnings of women and men has shrunk, women are still paid less than men for no real discernible reason. Whether that is because they’re more willing to ask or not, knowing what you deserve and negotiating according to your needs and aptitudes will be extremely important when the time to ask for a raise comes.

Do You Know Your Worth?

There is nothing wrong with a little modesty, but you shouldn’t downplay your strengths and talent. Especially not when it comes to what your work is worth or the confidence with which you talk yourself up. Be aware of your strengths, the things that make you invaluable to your company, and the ways in which you can contribute to its growth in the future. Remember, this is about business so be aware of what makes you a true asset to your employers – and, incidentally, to any other company that might be looking for someone with your abilities.

You Think Personal Projects Are a Luxury? Think again!

Talk to the coworkers most likely to be open about it or, if that makes you uncomfortable (or you’re afraid it’ll have consequences), go to Glassdoor, PayScale, or any other website dedicated to salary and income information to find out how much people in similar positions are making. According to Hannah Williams, the 26-year-old content creator behind Salary Transparent Street, open discussion of salaries is a powerful tool to fight pay inequity and it helps people in the same profession when it’s time to ask for a raise and negotiate.

Photo Credit- Towfiqu Barbhuiya-Unsplash

Photo Credit- Towfiqu Barbhuiya-Unsplash

What Is Salary Transparency and How to Use it to Ask for a Raise?

Salary transparency can be interpreted in different ways. For some, it means communicating and explaining pay practices. For others, it means full transparency around the salary or salary ranges for every role in the company. Research carried out by Talent.com shows that 74% of job seekers in England believe that salary transparency “creates a fairer environment for the worker and their colleagues.”

Four Things to Consider While Negotiating

1Be strategic: Don’t be afraid to take a little time and prepare to have that conversation. If it’s possible, schedule a meeting to get feedback on your work a few weeks before you ask for a raise. Buy yourself a little extra time to refine the aptitudes that make you indispensable. You should also make sure there is room to negotiate and that the timing is right.

2Talk yourself up: Don’t be afraid to brag about your accomplishments. In fact, you should be prepared to provide proof of all the ways in which you’ve had a positive impact on the projects you’ve been involved in, new hires, teamwork, and other important contributions. If you got feedback before arranging your meeting to ask for a raise, make sure you can show this progress and improvement.

3Rehearse: Write everything you want to say down, bring documents or a presentation if you need them, and ask a friend to help you rehearse so you can make sure that you’re focusing on what’s necessary. This is especially important if you’re feeling nervous about it. You can even consider talking to a coach about this and other important work conversations. But even if you’re feeling confident, knowing what you want to say can only help when you ask for a raise.

4Have A Number in Mind: Do your research, get a good idea of what the people in your role or similar roles are making. You can use a salary calculator on websites like LinkedIn or Salary.com and talk to friends who work at a similar level in a similarly sized organization, preferably in your same field. Gathering all this information will make it easier for you to know what to say when you are asked what your ideal salary is.

Procrastination: The Negative and Positive Sides of it
Do you know how and when to ask for a raise? - Photo Credit- Kyle Glenn-Unsplash

Do you know how and when to ask for a raise? – Photo Credit- Kyle Glenn-Unsplash

If the Answer Is No

If you ask for a raise and the answer is no, you can always see if there are other ways in which your hard work and the good it brings can be acknowledged. Can you get extra paid time off or other benefits? Is your manager or employer willing to revisit a raise in a few months? Can you think about working towards a promotion? It doesn’t need to happen right away, but if you’re still feeling underappreciated after you ask for a raise, maybe it’s time to start looking for a bigger change.  

You Think Personal Projects Are a Luxury? Think again!

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There are many reasons why making time for personal projects should be high on our lists. But while creative personal projects and hobbies are good for mental health, productivity, and happiness, it’s not always easy to find the time for them in our daily lives.

Take time for personal projects- Photo Credit- Aaron Burden- Unsplash

Take time for personal projects- Photo Credit- Aaron Burden- Unsplash

Between work, socializing, and much necessary time to unplug and rest, adding a time-consuming personal project can be tricky and overwhelming. Yet, personal projects are usually things we’re emotionally invested in and failing to keep up with them can impact our self-confidence.

Creative projects can be relaxing and rewarding and making time for them can become an important part of self-care. Not only do they help make us happier and more confident, but they can also have an impact on our productivity and the quality of our work. So maybe it’s about time to ask yourself if you’re making time for personal projects and, if not, finally learn that language, finish that novel, or take that painting or pottery class.

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Why Is Making Time for Our Personal Projects Important?

There’s more to hobbies and personal projects than just occupying our time with something. These activities that we usually choose out of passion can play a big part in building confidence and self-esteem. You don’t really need to create a multi-million-dollar app or write a literary masterpiece to get your time’s worth when it comes to personal projects and creative hobbies. Just putting time into interests that aren’t work-related can help you be happier, healthier, and more productive.

According to a study measuring the effect of creative hobbies in 400 employees by Dr. Kevin Eschleman, San Francisco State psychology professor, companies could benefit from encouraging employees to take up on creative personal projects to recover from the toll work can take. Eschelman and his team found that “creative activities are likely to provide valuable experiences of mastery and control but may also provide employees experiences of discovery that uniquely influence performance-related outcomes.”

Creative endeavors are key ingredient in recovery from work and according to the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, different factors must be considered when it comes to recovery and leisure, or lack thereof. “From a psychological perspective, it would be better if people engaged in activities in which they sought challenges and tried to match them with their skills. Evidently this also applies to work: Optimal experiences correlate positively with mental health.”

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Personal Projects are not a luxury- Photo Credit- Pablo Escobar-Unsplash

Personal Projects are not a luxury- Photo Credit- Pablo Escobar-Unsplash

Three Things to Consider 

1Create A Schedule and Stick to It: Take a good look at your day and find at least half an hour you can dedicate fully, without interruptions, to your personal projects. Find whatever works best for you, for some people, it’s waking up earlier and dedicating the first few hours of the day to something you are passionate about. That may not be true about you though, so audit your time and figure out when you’re feeling most inspired or are less likely to be interrupted. Once you define it, make your personal project time non-negotiable and set yourself goals. This will help you make a habit out of it and be more consistent.

2Don’t Be Afraid of a Challenge: Finding a meaningful activity is important when it comes to personal projects and hobbies. Since you are not economically reliant on your personal projects, you can take risks and try new things without having to stick to what you know or what you are good at. And while it’s important to treat your personal projects with the same seriousness you’d treat a work endeavor with, you should also give yourself the opportunity to leave the projects you no longer find fulfilling behind.

3Love What You Do: Personal projects and hobbies should not feel like a chore. Sure, getting to them will be easier some days than others, but these projects should be something you love. This will make it easier for you to keep coming back to them, since ideally these will be things you’re emotionally and creatively invested in. Things you really want to do out of love. You can choose anything that interests you or you want to know more about, but make sure you’re enjoying it, even if it’s a challenging choice.

Procrastination: The Negative and Positive Sides of it

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Putting things off until the last minute isn’t uncommon in the workplace. It’s especially easy to fall into when you’re working from home, where rearranging kitchen drawers and bookshelves becomes an everyday possibility. But while some think that procrastinators can be unreliable and lazy, there are those who believe that giving things more time can be a strength when it comes to decision-making and work. So, can procrastination be positive? How does it work?

Procrastination has many negative sides- Photo Credit- Annie Spratt- Unsplash

Procrastination has many negative sides and some positive ones- Photo Credit- Annie Spratt- Unsplash

Yes, procrastination can take a positive turn but it’s important to identify what it is that is making us put that one task off in the name of gardening. It can be caused by boredom, insecurity, anxiety, and even depression, making it impossible for some people to control it until those feelings have been identified and dealt with. If you know how to use it to your advantage, to stay productive and prioritize instead of just putting things off indefinitely, you might just be able to master the art of positive procrastination.

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Procrastination: What Is It?

Defined by experts as a “self-defeating behavior pattern marked by short-term benefits and long-term costs,” studies show that 25% of adults believe procrastination is a defining characteristic of their personality. They also show that “chronic procrastination” can have a severe impact on mental health, increasing feelings of guilt and stress over productivity, and affecting our mental and physical well-being.

According to Dr. Tim Pychyl, professor of psychology and member of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University in Ottawa, procrastination is an issue of emotion regulation, not one of time management. Together with Dr. Fuschia Sirois, Dr. Pychyl found that procrastination has to do with our inability to manage negative moods and the immediate relief brought by doing something else ­– even if that choice works against us.

As a problem that has to do with how we feel, the best way to deal with it is to figure out what is triggering those emotions. Reasons to procrastinate can include boredom or feeling like we’re not being challenged, frustration with the tasks at hand, fears and anxieties about our performance, doubting our abilities, perfectionism and the many, many distractions that surround us, including social media, streaming services or reorganizing the fridge. Accurately identifying these emotions will help manage them.

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Discover what triggers your procrastination-Photo Credit- Priscilla du Preez-Unsplash

Discover what triggers your procrastination-Photo Credit- Priscilla du Preez-Unsplash

Positive Procrastination?

Some people have argued in defense of procrastination and talked about “positive procrastination.” This, however, still involves putting things off. Dr. Fuschia Sirois argues that unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying an important task despite knowing that the consequences are harmful is embedded in the definition of procrastination. The stress and anxiety resulting of procrastination is usually worse than whatever feelings initially made us avoid doing something. Sirois, a professor of psychology at Durham, UK, says that by managing the emotions we can’t control externally, we get temporary relief. “But we’ve done it temporarily and we’ve done it externally, so it is going to come back to haunt us.”

Nevertheless, there can be some positive sides to sitting with things a little longer. According to Adam Grant, a professor of management and psychology at the Wharton School, when it comes to the creative process procrastination can be a good thing. Delaying the start or finish of a task can open us up to more original ideas because it gives you time to think in “non-linear” ways.

His advice for procrastinators? Write thoughts and ideas down as soon as a project arrives. Even if we don’t start working on it right away, it’ll be on our minds.

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Explore tools to help you overcome prograstination- Photo Credit- Kelly Sikkema-Unsplash

Explore tools to help you overcome prograstination- Photo Credit- Kelly Sikkema-Unsplash

A Few Tips for Procrastinators

1Kindness and self-compassion: Self-compassion can help us look at the tasks we haven’t been able to complete and help motivate us to find new approaches instead of questioning our self-worth and abilities – which will only lead to more procrastination. Meeting challenges with kindness and acceptance can help with the psychological distress and give us the boost we need to manage our emotions better.

2No overthinking zone: The more we sit with an idea and all the ways in which it could maybe go wrong, the more likely we are to abandon it to go rearrange condiments. Whatever it is, the trick is in just getting started. Set realistic goals and get to work. Meeting those goals will make some of the fears subside. Sometimes it’s just about getting started.

3Prioritizing matters: Learning to choose between the tasks that can wait and those that absolutely need to meet specific deadlines is essential. It’s best to leave those important big tasks for the most productive times of day.

4Realistic work periods: Trying to make up for lost productivity setting unreal work schedules isn’t a great idea. Being consistent about the hours we dedicate to the priority projects is important and creating a pattern can make it easier to manage our time.

5Set the stage: Temptation is a tricky thing for procrastinators to resist so it’s not a bad idea to make those distractions extra unreachable. Finding the right place to work could change everything, especially if that place forces us to focus on the task at hand and makes it difficult to access distractions. Does music help? Do we need silence? Do we need to remove all electronics from our room to get things done? Explore your own triggers that lead you to procrastinate a task so you can figure out what setting will work best for you.

 

Women Who Build: Vamos a Zoomar Project

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Part One

Women Who Build (Mujeres Que Construyen) is an initiative led by Vamos A Zoomar (VAZ), an Argentinean foundation working to create space for women in construction. Their mission and their success are an inspiration for all of us. Find out all about a project that may encourage you to get involved with the construction industry or many others traditionally reserved just for men.

Women who Build is a program by Fundacion Zoomar

Women who Build is a program by Fundacion Zoomar

The construction industry grants only a limited access to women and other marginalized groups based on cultural biases despite it being one of Argentina’s main economic activities. One that saw considerable growth in the past year.

Through Mujeres que Construyen (Women Who Build), VAZ (aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)) provides the necessary tools for women in the country. Giving them an opportunity to prosper economically while becoming part of a community that supports them and helps them to grow. The program is sponsored by Fundación TECHO and Argentine construction giant, Familia Bercomat. With additional support from UN WOMEN and the Netherlands Embassy.

Don't miss another inspiring story about Women in Construction
Graduates from Women Who Build program in Argentina

Graduates from Women Who Build program in Argentina

What is Mujeres que Construyen (Women Who Build)?

Aline Verastegui – What is the program Zoomadoras: Mujeres que Construyen (Women Who Build)? Where is the initiative available?

1Vamos a Zoomar – Mujeres que Construyen (Women Who Build) is a Vamos A Zoomar initiative dedicated to reducing the gender gap in the construction industry in Argentina. The program, promoted by TECHO and the Bercomat Family, with the support of UN WOMEN and the Netherlands Embassy, carries out a systemic approach focusing on three lines of work:

2Training: Through free face-to-face and virtual workshop focusing on different trades, which also include a discussion on gender perspective and aims at preparing women for employability. On-site training includes building improvement practices in community spaces. In these two years of work, more than 300 women and other marginalized groups were trained in 12 workshops in the provinces of Misiones, Formosa, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Chaco, and the Province of Buenos Aires.

You can see some videos of the workshops here.

3Awareness: Through actions that make the existing gender gap in the sector visible. Evidencing the need to break down the physical and symbolic barriers that prevent the inclusion of women and marginalized groups in the field. For example, we made the documentary Mujeres Que Construyen, which tells the story of two women, from Chaco and Misiones, who carved their place in the construction industry.

In 2022, the short received a special mention at the Lapacho de Chaco Festival. It was also selected to be screened during the Rural Film Festival (Corrientes) and received an honorable mention on the CINE.AR platform (where it will be able soon).

4Employability: To facilitate access to formal work and self-employment, we build networks with the different players in construction and provide tools for job placement. Helping women through mujeresqueconstruyen.org (which has been up and running since the start of 2023) by connecting them to their first professional work. The platform is promoted as a tool that lets them perfect what they learned during the workshops while also helping them network.

The protagonists of the documentary were trained in Buenos Aires in alliance with Barbieri to become steel frame instructors in their provinces. An agreement was signed with the construction company CL de Chaco and Lighthouse in the City of Buenos Aires for professional practices.

A group of Women Who Build

A group of Women Who Build

Free Training for All

AV – What are the free training sessions of Mujeres que Construyen (Women Who Build) about? Do they get any certifications?

VAZ – The free training consists of a first meeting where the importance of the gender perspective in the field is worked on. Then, one on cost estimation and budget imparted by Familia Bercomat employees, followed by a series of theoretical modules on the specialty of their choosing (masonry, dry construction, ceramic placement, painting). Finally, the practical part of all the workshops consists of the repair or improvement of a community space.

Nine community spaces have been improved by them so far, including the restoration of a locker room to promote women’s soccer, the construction of a commercial space for local and native entrepreneurs, as well as building three medical offices for primary care, among others.

AV – How did your association with TECHO Argentina and Familia Bercomat come about?

VAZ – The most powerful way to incubate and create solid social investment projects is through the union, strength, and involvement of all sectors. In this case, that of two organizations that could complement each other to transform reality. One private company and another from the third sector that already had knowledge in the industry. Thus, with the same commitment and objective incubated and promoted by these two organizations, VAZ was born.

A Roof by Women Who Build

AV – Can you tell us a little about the recent housing project that Zoomadoras trained by Mujeres que Construyen (Women Who Build) joined?

VAZ – Before closing the year, we added a group of nine women who participated in the painting training that we gave in Posadas, Misiones, to collaborate with TECHO in the construction of emergency housing in a town in that province. It was the first time that TECHO had a crew made up entirely of women. There, a group of 8 women was summoned to participate in the construction of an emergency house that took place the last weekend of November. After hard days of work, the house was ready and delivered to the beneficiary family. The action generated a strong impact in the community, which reacted very positively to the fact that it had been led by women.

The result revealed not only that the women were up to the job, but also that they were able to exceed all expectations and standards. The delivery of the house was also a moment full of emotion and recognition, which highlights the importance of empowering women so that they are involved positively in their communities. The reaction obtained strengthened these women’s desire to become a work crew and to join the industry.

Want to see some of their work? Follow them on Instagram.

Global Citizenship: How to Be a Global Citizen

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Understanding the meaning of global citizenship and how to be a global citizen is becoming increasingly important. Not just in the world of business, where some companies have become more aware of their social responsibilities, but in the way new generations are taught to understand the world, how they interact with it, and how they impact it. Economic, cultural, technological, and environmental global trends mean that we must understand how interconnected we are and find ways to engage in effective global citizenship and problem solving.

But what is global citizenship? How to be a global citizen? And why is it important?

Global competence requires a real and ongoing awareness of the world we live in. A willingness to step out of our own experiences to learn about and respectfully connect with different cultures. To educate ourselves on global issues, making it a long-term commitment, and seeking out educators and environmentalists from other countries, cultures, and backgrounds on social media and other platforms.

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Global Citizenship means we work together for a common future- Photo Credit- Nathan Dumlao-Unsplash

Global Citizenship means we work together for a common future- Photo Credit- Nathan Dumlao-Unsplash

What is global citizenship and what does it mean to be a global citizen?

According to the United Nations, global citizenship is an “umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale. The term can refer to the belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, local, and non-local networks rather than single actors affecting isolated societies.”

Oxfam defines Global Citizens as people who are: aware of world issues and have a sense of their own role in this world; respect and value diversity; understand how the world works; are passionately committed to social justice; participate in the community locally and globally; work with others to make the world a more equitable and sustainable place; and take responsibility for their actions.

Definitions may differ, but the general idea seems to be that people have a civic responsibility to be aware of challenges being faced globally and to build a more sustainable and equitable planet. Choosing “not to engage” or unplugging completely from issues that don’t directly affect us might seem like the easiest road, but that doesn’t make it the right one. An awareness of the very real impact of climate change can, for example, help people understand that entire communities are being already affected by something far more urgent than people who still see it as a future problem can imagine.

Global citizenship and global competence are so important moving forward that they have become a vital part of how young people are prepared to deal with the growing and changing demands of a globally connected and disconnected world. Through programs like UNESCO’S Global Citizen Education (GCED)and initiatives like Global Citizen Year and Global Citizenship Foundation – which focuses on achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 (Education for global citizenship and sustainable development).

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Global Citizenship means being involved in issues that not only affect you locally- Photo Credit- Jon Tyson-Unsplash

Global Citizenship means being involved in issues that not only affect you locally- Photo Credit- Jon Tyson-Unsplash

What Does Global Competence Mean?

Global citizenship and being a global citizen require a certain global competence. Veronica Boix Mansilla and Anthony Jackson on Educating for Global Competence: Preparing Our Youth to Engage the World define it as: “the capacity and disposition to understand and act on issues of global significance.” They add that globally competent individuals are “aware, curious, and interested in learning about the world and how it works.”

But it’s not just about knowing, global competence will require people to act. A globally competent citizen is a critical thinker with a real awareness of the influences of culture on individual behavior and world events. They take knowledge and engage in these challenges with empathy, critical thinking, and a nuanced understanding of the diverse and culturally relevant views regarding each individual global challenge faced.

On the matter of education, the Center of Global Education (CGE) at Asia Society says that “success in career and life will depend on global competence, because career and life will play out on the global stage.” With a call for government, business, and cultural institutions to cooperate in solving the world’s problems by acting and making a difference in matters such as environmental issues, economic shifts, global poverty, hunger, population growth, violation of human rights, and political conflict.

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Photo Credit -Unsplash

Photo Credit -Unsplash

How Do I Become a Global Citizen?

The Global Citizen Initiative states that living in a hyper-connected and interdependent world means that global citizens have an added layer of responsibility. These responsibilities include:

  1. Understanding the peoples and countries of the world are inter-connected and interdependent.
  2. Understanding global issues like the distribution of wealth and human rights violations in ours and other countries.
  3. Understanding the different perspectives on global issues, both when it comes to other peoples’ and our own.
  4. The responsibility to advocate for having our countries sign outstanding global agreements.
  5. The responsibility to promote and advocate for greater international cooperation between our countries.
  6. The responsibility to adopt lifestyles reflecting a commitment to build a sustainable planet and respect the world’s cultural diversity.

Global citizens must keep an open mind, making a real effort to understand where others are coming from and reading up to make sure that their own opinions on the matter have considered important and specific cultural standpoints and approach them with compassion and respect. They are respectful of cultural diversity and human rights and feel responsible for their impact in a world where they work to make a change.

In fact, global citizenship and being a global citizen is an ongoing process and requires some commitment as the world and its immediate needs continue to shift. Try to make greener choices, stay informed, volunteer your time locally, learn a new language, meet, and talk to people with different experiences. Keep learning about global issues like food waste and global hunger, and find out what you can do to support, create awareness, and educate.

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