Suffolk Prof Offers Advice for Women in Business

Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School, Jodi Detjen offers advice for women who are trying to balance their work and family life. Professor Detjen addresses the issues that women face with trying to “have it all.” Detjen has interviewed hundres of college-educated women about their careers and work-life struggles.

Detjen recently co-authored “The Orange Line- A Women’s Guide to Integrating Career, Family and Life.” Along with her co-author, Kelly Watson, she has started Orange Grove Consulting. This innovating leadership development agency helps women and organizations to eliminate some of these common self-limiting assumptions that women have about work-life balance.

Orange Grove Consulting offers workshops that are designed to help women to change the way that they think. Their ultimate goal is to help to create environments that foster women leadership in organizations.

Detjen identifies some of the most common assumptions that women face when trying to have a successful work and family life.

“Assumption 1: I need to be perfect

Many women assume that they need to do everything and do it perfectly. As they struggle to fulfill this unrealistic ideal, they consistently fall short and feel like they’re not good enough, Detjen explains. As a result, some women may overcompensate by over-achieving the smallest and least-important tasks. Others may avoid risks—like asking for a promotion—out of fear of failing.

Assumption 2: I am responsible for home and family first. My career is secondary.

Women in dual-parent households often feel pressure to be the primary caretaker for the home and family. As they fight an impossible battle for time, they may end up having to sacrifice all or part of their career for the family.

Assumption 3: If I do good work, good things will happen.

A common belief is that good work is rewarded. Instead of asking for a promotion, we wait,” says Detjen. But that’s not how it works in business. Simply doing a good job isn’t enough to get what you want out of your career.”

regions: Boston

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