Why Do Female Doctors Earn Less?

Lying in bed reading the newspapers is my indulgent Sunday morning activity although often the stories make me splutter into my tea.

One such was this report on female doctors hitting a glass ceiling in the UK -this link will take you to the story.

Why?

Splutter over, I mused on what makes it so, particularly the comment that ‘women do not put themselves forward’. There are lots of obvious reasons like child care etc but actually, although most people now would not dispute that women are equally as capable as men, the world of working practices has not caught up.

Change The Way We Work

Work and working practices have been designed by men and suit men. Historically it’s how it happened. Women and ethnic minorities were not around when the basic principles were established. But if we were to design many of our old established professions to suit BOTH genders (not just make them female friendly which sounds somewhat patronising, but really think about a system that is open to everyone in our society), I believe the equality issue would fade. Modern companies that have taken this more inclusive route have found that both women AND men benefit.

What Do You Think?

Do you think your profession/job/career would be significantly different if both genders had devised the working remit? Please do share your thoughts with us.

What Do You Best?

In terms of work, what is it that you do best? What makes you feel good about yourself? When do you feel most confident and competent?

Research

It’s important to know. Research on what makes a great workplace* placed having a daily opportunity to do what you do best high in a list of positive factors. In fact, it was number three in 12.

Money is a motivator, of course, but for most of us money alone is not enough and it rarely comes out top in any survey of what motivates people. Work is usually so much more than simply a means to earning a living. We need to get something meaningful from it.

Self Worth

And one of those things is the feeling of self worth that comes from doing what we’re good at, at least once a day. If you are not currently getting that feeling of self worth from work, maybe it’s time to explore other avenues? Perhaps there are other ways of meeting that need, like voluntary work, a second job following your passion?  First stop is to see if work can provide it, but if not, try looking beyond the boundaries of paid employment and see what is out there!

Do you have an opportunity to do what you do best every day?

*Gallup, Buckingham & Coffman. ‘First Break all the Rules: What the world’s great managers do differently’.

Do You Say ‘Thank You’ Enough?

I have recently returned from the US where I flew with United Airlines. On our return flight there was a problem with our ticket. It was entirely our fault as there was a time discrepancy between out itinerary and the actual ticket! We arrived after our flight had left- mea culpa!

But thanks to the excellent guy on the check in desk it was no problem at all. He was calm and extremely helpful and got us on the plane we thought we were catching with the minimum of fuss and embarrassment. We thanked him profusely and he said, not at all, we had been lovely customers! Not only did he sort us out but he managed to compliment us in the process!

Remember Your Thank Yous!

I have just written to United Airlines thanking them for the excellent service we received, but I nearly forgot to do it. I was actually on Twitter talking about how good they had been when I realised I hadn’t actually told the airline! And it reminded me how much longer lasting our memory of bad experiences can be and how quick we are to share the negative stuff.

Which is not an argument for never complaining about bad service, but a reminder to acknowledge all the good experiences too.

Saying thank you sincerely and often matters. We all need to get some positive reinforcement when we do a job well, help someone, show kindness, whatever job we have and whatever status we are. Every parent knows the value of rewarding the behaviour we want to see more of in our children, and this principle holds true whatever age we are.

So, in that spirit,  who is deserving of your thanks today?

Life Changing Moments

I have a great job! I cannot adequately describe the pure pleasure it gives me to receive a card or email from someone telling me that something I have done, either on a course, when coaching, or written in the newsletter, has changed their life for the better. What a privilege to be able do that for a living!

Life Changing

Recently I had a life changing experience of my own. I’ll spare you the details but suffice it to say my doctor thought I might have a life threatening illness and sent me on a succession of emergency tests. To my relief it turns out that I do not have a life threatening illness but something manageable.

I had discussed this with a good friend who said, ‘whatever the outcome, this will change your life’. And he’s right. Facing the prospect, however slight, that your life might not be going according to your plan is a salutory experience, a life changing experience.

Life Changes Can be Fun!

But life changing experiences are not always so serious! Often it’s moments of pure joy that change our lives, like births, falling in love, or even attending a course that gives you a new insight and direction in life!

What have been your life changing moments? What events in your life have caused you to re-evaluate and make positive changes in your life? Was it a person, or an event? My Inspirational Women series has many examples of women who have made positive changes in their lives; here are two of them:

Natascha Barrymore was so touched by the devastation of the Asian Tsunami that she gave up her old life totally. Her story is here.

And Susan Denmark was inspired by illness to take herself off to the Northern lights!

Please do share your own life changing moments; I’d love to hear from you - your story will inspire others!

Are You Good Enough?

Sometimes good enough is good enough.

If you find yourself unable to ever settle for less than perfection there’s a strong likelihood that you spend much of your life feeling very pressurised and stressed. Perfection in all areas at all times is rarely a realistic aim.

That doesn’t mean one shouldn’t strive for it, but if you are constantly unhappy with your less than perfect attempts you will never do anything: it can stultify you, and stop you from experimenting and trying new things. Being a perfectionist can stop you learning and growing and hold back your personal development. If ‘Be Perfect’ is one of your drivers, try ‘Good Enough’ for a day!

Sometimes good enough is good enough!

What do you think?

One Wedding and a Holiday!

In yesterday’s post I exhorted you all to take a proper break from work, have a real holiday from the 21st Century.  Even if just for one day.

And I am following my own advice! (Although I’m not sure that crossing the Atlantic on a plane counts as leaving the 21st century behind but the spirit is there…).

By the time you read this I will be in the US where I am attending the wedding of good friends. Gwilym, whom we have known since childhood, is marrying a lovely American girl, Molly, in California. And my husband has the honour of conducting the ceremony! He is not a priest, he’s a fire-fighter (!) but will be sworn in for the day as a marriage celebrant. Previously the only person he has married was me, 33 years ago: I’ve had great fun telling folks my husband is marrying our friends’ son!

And I am going to give myself over completely to enjoying the trip. No lap top, no obsessive checking of emails, (although I must admit someone else will be doing that and taking course bookings), and no phoning the office every day just in case the world has tipped on its axis because I am not there.  I am going to relax and enjoy the whole experience. Laughing, crying (weddings- I can’t help it), I’ll be doing it all.

But one thing I won’t be doing, is working!

Whatever you’re doing for a break this summer, the important thing is to have one, a proper one. Whether it’s sunning yourself on the coast, lying in bed late every day with a great novel, touring a stately home, it doesn’t matter. Its purpose is to refresh you and recharge you, so do what you need to do, for you!

Regular readers will know that I place great importance on celebrating the good things in life, so in that spirit, please join me in an international toast, to Molly and Gwilym, the bride and groom! Much love and happiness forever!

I’ll catch you all after the break!