close
close

How women can defy gravity in their careers

How women can defy gravity in their careers

As a woman in business, I’ve learned that overcoming the “gravity” that holds many women back requires a lot of persistence. It’s a lot like launching a rocket: you don’t rise by accident, you rise through deliberate and sustained effort.

Throughout my career, I have witnessed first-hand how pressure to conform, expectations of a perfect work-life balance, and fear of risk can prevent women from reaching their full potential. On top of this, women face many unique barriers, from unequal care responsibilities institutional barriers and social prejudices (sometimes unconsciously, sometimes not) that suggest women have no place in leadership.

These barriers are deep-rooted and will take time to remove, but change is possible.

While it’s certainly not a panacea for the challenges women face, developing four qualities has allowed me to keep moving forward even when the path has been difficult or unclear: grit, gumption, grace, and gratitude. These qualities have helped me not only defy gravity, but also defy it.

Grit: the courage to continue

Perseverance is important because leadership requires both resilience and the ability to learn from failure. It’s not about avoiding mistakes; it’s about how you face them and keep moving forward. The most successful leaders are those who can survive the most difficult times and continue to move forward.

For example, after a difficult meeting or failure on a project, I remind myself that I can view this as a learning moment or a failure. Even on the toughest days, I take a step back, regroup, and focus on what I can improve. This mental shift was critical, whether making difficult boardroom decisions or leading organizational change.

The key is to admit every day and every mistake.

One of the greatest lessons I learned from my mother was that how you act when you win matters just as much as when you lose. Great leaders come and face whatever comes their way with determination and never ask anyone to do anything they would not do themselves. For leaders, grit is rolling up your sleeves, getting into the details, and making the tough choices when others don’t.

Smartness: Confidence in betting on yourself

Grit is having the confidence to be yourself and bet on yourself even when others don’t.

Early in my career, I experienced gender bias in the workplace for the first time. A senior leader told me that I was not leadership material. Why? Because I laughed too much. I smiled too much. I didn’t fit people’s expectations of what people thought a leader should look like or act like. Fortunately, I did not listen to this leader. It hurt, that’s for sure, but I dug deep and believed in myself.

To succeed, you need to bet on yourself and take the leap. Show up where decisions are being made and don’t be a passive observer. Be prepared, have a point of view and, if necessary, challenge the assumptions in the room. And most importantly, be willing to amplify the voices of others, especially those who are underrepresented or have not found their voice to speak up.

Grace: The Power of Forgiveness and Understanding

Grace is about giving yourself and others a break, especially when things don’t go as planned. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by expectations, both personal and professional, but remember that no one has a perfect career or life. We all stumble. What defines you is how you deal with those mistakes.

Forgive yourself when you fail. And when others do, offer them the same understanding. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow, not a reason to criticize. When you make a mistake, don’t be too hard on yourself. Instead, use this as an opportunity to figure out what’s going wrong and fix it before it becomes a bigger problem.

The truth is that at some point you will need grace from others. Leaders who give grace to others promote trust and loyalty. Ultimately, those who give grace often find that they receive it in return.

Gratitude: The Superpower of Leadership

Gratitude in leadership is often overlooked, but it is one of the most powerful tools we have. I keep a box in my desk with all the notes, sticky notes, and thank you notes I’ve received over the years. These small gestures remind me why I keep moving forward, and they are far more valuable to me than any award or recognition.

Saying “thank you” is one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to build trust and motivate others. Leaders who express gratitude not only improve team dynamics, but also inspire loyalty and attract top talent. Gratitude promotes respect, strengthens relationships, and creates a culture where people feel valued.

When you acknowledge the contributions of others and take the time to appreciate their efforts, you make them feel seen. This, in turn, strengthens the entire team’s commitment to the organization’s goals.

The way forward

Of course, we have a long way to go. Today women still make up only about 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs and just 29% of the global STEM workforce. But by exercising grit, smarts, grace, and gratitude, we not only accelerate our careers, but also help lift the spirits of those around us. By doing so, we can overcome the gravitational forces that limit us and create space for more women to lead, thrive, and transform industries.

Read more:

The views expressed in Fortune.com comments are solely the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs Luck.

This story was originally published on Fortune.com