Know your line: Bohannon says it’s important for women to know the point at which they would feel compromised. “Where is your line? Most people don’t know the answer. [You] get up to your line and cross and then say, ‘This does not feel good.’ But you can’t figure that out until you put yourself out there. This is not a mental exercise.†Bohannon suggests participating in social activities: you might enjoy learning and playing golf; you may gain strategic information having drinks after work. However, you may not, for example, agree to working overtime during an important religious holiday–that’s your line.
Don’t be insular: “Our reputation and our brand is that we are very private,†says Bohannon. “We don’t talk about ourselves; we don’t share a lot about ourselves. It’s how we were socialized. We had to keep it close to the vest. That’s how we were raised.†But in workplace strategies such as securing sponsorship, which is key for advancement in an organization, you have to be seen as not just a great worker, but a team member. “For sponsorship, chemistry is in place, because this is when I choose to invest in your future. I’m going to co-sign for you and ensure that you have the right job opportunities. But you have to be as attractive as you possibly can based on the key requirements for success.â€
The most important part of conquering ambivalence is to be clear about what you want for your career and aligning with an organization that matches those goals. “Those who are clear can take advantage of opportunities. Also, managing ambivalence is about getting in touch with how you were raised. There may be things that you will never compromise on. But there might be things that no longer work, and you have to let them go and embrace something that’s new.â€