Listen "178 - Why Should You Have It Any Easier"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, Cindy Esliger addresses the belief that if one generation of women endured suffering in order to succeed, the next generation must too. Some women, consciously or not, believe that hardship is a necessary rite of passage. They gatekeep and end up reinforcing a toxic culture instead of paving the way for women coming up after them to succeed with fewer obstacles. Cindy looks at how to break this cycle, how to redefine the goal as not just enduring the hardships of the system, but to change the system. With this in mind, a future of thriving, not simply surviving, can exist between generations in the workplace. The fact that some women seem intent on ensuring future generations endure the same suffering they did comes from surviving the continued traumas of toxic workplaces. It’s a type of internalized misogyny disguised as high standards, making the bar one of how much abuse can be suffered. Cindy makes the case for dismantling this cycle because it’s doing more collective harm than good. We can choose to energize the next generation instead of exhausting them. Resources are not as limited as we’ve been led to believe. Women can win and be celebrated by each other without anyone losing. True leadership isn’t about exerting power over anyone. Cindy stresses that it’s about building something sustainable together. So, how do we break this ingrained cycle and build something better? Cindy offers five ways to start: 1. Choose mentorship over gatekeeping, 2. Redefine what strength looks like, 3. Celebrate collective wins, 4. Push for structural change, and 5. Create new measures of readiness and performance. Cindy asks us to use our survival stories not as weapons, but as reasons to lead differently and mentor generously. Resources discussed in this episode:Guide to Breaking the CycleAstronomic AudioConfidence Collective—Contact Cindy Esliger Career Confidence Coaching: website | instagram | facebook | linkedin | email Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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